Barnardos: Plans will help children out of prostitution

Tuesday, 17, Jan 2006 12:00

Children's charity Barnardos, which worked with the government on its new proposals on how to deal with prostitution, has welcomed today's strategy.

"Up until now prostitution was seen as an inevitable part of our society, with no clear coherent strategy for dealing with the damage it specifically does to children and young people," said policy officer Ginny Wilkinson.

"Barnardo’s believes the coordinated prostitution strategy sends out a clear message that the young must be protected, that adults who entice children and young people into prostitution must be identified and punished, and that prostitution is not a victimless occupation."

Today's proposals place a greater emphasis on cracking down on the demand for prostitution, with the police encouraged to confiscate the licences of kerb crawlers and take a harder stance against pimping.

The police would also work more closely with safe houses to help more people trapped into prostitution to find a way out.