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Papers should face charges over sex ads, says group


Newspapers carrying prostitution advertisements should face the same penalties as men who pay to have sex with trafficked women, a campaign group has said.

Under new Government legislation, men can be prosecuted if they pay for sex with a trafficked woman, whether they knew about her situation or not.

Meanwhile, Croydon Community Against Trafficking (CCAT) said newspapers carrying ads for brothels are just as guilty for sustaining “a vile trade in human life” as the men who use them and should also be held criminally responsible.

Newsquest, the publisher of the South London Guardian series, banned the adverts from its 305 titles nationwide in 2008.

The company was persuaded there is a clear link between the adverts and women being trafficked for sex.

A CCAT spokeswoman said: “Newspaper publishers have a social and moral responsibility to ensure that they are not advertising illegal services in their pages - a simple phone call will demonstrate that many of the massage parlours advertised are actually brothels.

“Those that profit from people being sold against their will, are profiting from slavery, and this is completely unacceptable.

“Newsquest has taken a principled stand in this fight but other newspaper companies refuse to follow their example.

“Therefore we believe it is time for legislation to be introduced which criminalises the publication and distribution of the advertisements for brothels which are helping to sustain a vile trade in human life.

“It is high time publishers were made liable for what is advertised in their newspapers.”

CCAT welcomed news Labour ministers are considering criminalising publishers who run adverts for massage parlours and saunas.

A report into the sex industry, commissioned by MP Harriet Harman, showed more than 40 per cent of men access off-street prostitutes through local newspapers.


Comments(14)

Jan 77 says...
12:03pm Sat 13 Mar 10

wonder how many sleazy mps harriet found using these women???

theavengers says...
2:25pm Sat 13 Mar 10

couldn't have said it better concerned scoffer. it is obvious how many of these foreign women get their money around Sutton and how we keep inviting all sorts from countries known for trafficking, drugs, credit card fraud, etc. i thank a lot of it for being part of this horrible thing called the EU. the day that happened England lost so much while others gained. crime of certain forms has risen highly since certain people were allowed to come over. paper really shouldn't take money from advertisers like this.

Scared of reprisals says...
2:31am Sun 14 Mar 10

This is what happens when you have a Labour Government. They always hide behind "Human rights", but are only ever interested in getting peoiple into this country who are foolish enough to vote for htem!!

Get rid of Brown and his cohorts and get rid of the Human Rights Act, then we might just stand a chance of getting a country back from the edge of oblivion!!

NastyMrTom says...
11:37am Mon 15 Mar 10

This Government has admitted having an open-door immigration policy to boost the labour vote ...
No they haven't

prostitution is illegal ...
No it's not

yes, it's tragic that these wretched women are trafficked - but arresting the punters will not solve owt ...
seems logical that tackling demand will have an effect

roll on general election when we can have our say ...
just don't take any notice of this ill-informed joker

sniff sniff

mon chevalieer says...
12:20pm Mon 15 Mar 10

yup ... agree with "concerned" 100% dont' agree with "nasty"

NastyMrTom says...
12:52pm Mon 15 Mar 10

vote for whoever you please just make sure they're not lying halfwits that can't spell 'chevalier'

mcblount says...
12:55pm Mon 15 Mar 10

I shall vote Conservative.

mon chevalieer says...
2:50pm Mon 15 Mar 10

NastyMrTom wrote:
vote for whoever you please just make sure they're not lying halfwits that can't spell 'chevalier'
lying about what? you must be confusing me with someone else

manboon says...
8:17pm Mon 15 Mar 10

I don't think stopping advertising is the answer.
Not all parlors are trafficked Girls/people after all, I'm sure. Most are legitimate people trying to pay for a good education to their kids.

Legalize it, tax them, and deal with people who traffic those poor people.
Once again it seems to be tackling the wrong part of the problem. Arrest the no gooders, and lock them up for a very long time to act as a deterrent. If they were not people trafficking, would they get a 9-5 office job instead?.

This country has been sold down the road. We are without a paddle!!.

Pray for some sensible leadership , in the very near future.

buck williams says...
2:22pm Tue 16 Mar 10

A massage parlour advert. is not an advert. for a brothel, plenty of people have a massage for aches and pains to say otherwise is untrue..

Angela M says...
9:19am Wed 17 Mar 10

I think prostitution should be legalised as it is in some parts of the US. The women would be tested frequently for STDs (as would customers when they sign up), the brothels would be secure and safe and the system would be regulated.

It's not like the 'legalise drugs' argument - all drugs carry risks whether regulated or not. Sex is a natural part of life, and if some women are willing to offer it to others, I can't see any problem with it.

concerned scoffer says...
12:36pm Wed 17 Mar 10

I noticed my sensible and honest post was removed for no obvious reason other than the fact I dared link the trafficking of these wretched women to weak immigration policies!!... so much for free speech on local newspaper forums eh ?

NastyMrTom says...
4:08pm Wed 17 Mar 10

boo hoo

sniff sniff

lol

miss moneyhoney says...
6:36pm Wed 17 Mar 10

concerned scoffer wrote:
I noticed my sensible and honest post was removed for no obvious reason other than the fact I dared link the trafficking of these wretched women to weak immigration policies!!... so much for free speech on local newspaper forums eh ?
there is nothing wrong with those comments scoffer ! xx


Papers should face charges over sex ads, says group Papers should face charges over sex ads, says group

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