Head-to-head: Prostitution strategy

The government is setting out a new approach to tackling prostitution, including tougher action on men who buy sex and more help for prostitutes in areas such as housing and drug addiction.

Niki Adams, of the English Collective of Prostitutes, and Dr Tim Brain, Chief Constable of Gloucestershire, discussed the issue on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

NIKI ADAMS, ENGLISH COLLECTIVE OF PROSTITUTES

The whole approach is prosecution rather than protection so women feel less able to come forward and report rape and other violence Niki Adams

I think the package is really very similar to many other approaches that we've seen in the past, which is really just a crackdown on prostitution.

The one concrete proposal is the crackdown on clients. The other measures that could have some effect are listed as possibilities.

The result of that [a crackdown on clients] will be an increase in criminalisation and an increase in rape and other violence. That's what we've seen every single time that that has been put forward.

What it means is that the streets are saturated with police and what happens under those circumstances is that prostitute women are arrested first and most. Women have less time to check out clients and are forced further underground.

The whole approach is prosecution rather than protection so women feel less able to come forward and report rape and other violence.

'Punitive approach'

And once you have a criminal record, your chances of leaving prostitution are very slim because it's very difficult to get any kind of other employment.

I think the context in which these measures are being brought in [is that] the government has already demonstrated that that they favour is a punitive approach.

They brought in antisocial behaviour orders, which are widely being used against prostitute women and have resulted in the introduction of prison sentences that we haven't seen for many years.

[The change in the law on brothel-keeping] would be a good thing but in the context of what's actually happening - which is that they've already brought in an increase in sentencing for brothel-keeping from six months to seven years, making it a much more serious offence - how can we take it seriously that that's what they're proposing?

DR TIM BRAIN, CHIEF CONSTABLE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE

The only person using the term "crackdown" here is Nicki. The reality of it is that prostitution harms individuals, blights communities and fosters organised crime.

A very balanced approach that the government has brought forward means helping individuals... helping communities... and actually tackling the people who abuse and exploit.

The crucial part of the government strategy is actually helping people out of prostitution.

What they're offering is a balanced approach. It's one we advocated back in October 2004 when we launched our own strategy and so this represents a crucial step forward for communities across the country.

Its the media that's using the term "zero tolerance approach".

What is being offered here is a balanced approach and crucially, if everybody actually reads the new strategy, it's one that works in partnership.

It's not what a civilised society in the 21st Century should be promoting Chief Constable Tim Brain

It is not simply a police operation. It is a partnership operation which involves local authorities and voluntary groups that have been active in this field for many years.

And the additional help which the government is offering here is one which is going to be most welcome for the communities and the individuals concerned.

Tackling kerb-crawling is exactly part of the balanced strategy that you must have.

It is not simply latching onto one aspect of any particular form of enforcement or any particular form of routes out.

It has to be a balanced strategy. It has to be one that is sustained across a very long period of time and the term "crackdown" is very unhelpful.

This is actually, I think, a long haul for the future. And I'm very pleased that somebody has actually said we're not going to be tolerant of this kind of practice going on for ever and ever.

It's not what a civilised society in the 21st Century should be promoting.