Maurice Morrow of the DUP has whinged at the police for "overstepping the mark" when the did not support his nasty bill to persecute men just for paying for sex.
A senior officer insisted the force does not support the bill which us due
to be debated at Stormont. Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris said the PSNI wanted to find an alternative to tackling prostitution and human trafficking:
The PSNI position is clear in that we do not support the
liberalisation of laws [only for women] in relation to prostitution
We are striving to find better ways to tackle the serious problem of prostitution and human trafficking and are keen to be part of the wider societal debate about
how we can collectively minimise harm caused by prostitution. The ACC said while investigations into prostitution and trafficking were complex, the PSNI would do what it could to reduce harm and risk involved to all those concerned.
He said the police service had worked closely with the Department of Justice in giving its views on Morrow's Bill and was satisfied its comments would be taken on board in any future legislation.
Morrow yesterday whinged at the PSNI, spouting:
It is unfortunate that the PSNI has become publicly involved in this debate and opposing his Bill. The Northern Ireland Assembly is the forum for debating and
reviewing proposed legislation and that process is continuing. Unfortunately, the PSNI has publicly entered the political arena to oppose the introduction of my Bill.
It is a very rare event for a police force in the United
Kingdom to intervene and oppose legislation passing through a parliamentary process. The current activity by the PSNI in opposing my Bill is deeply unprofessional and is showing complete disrespect for the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Finally, let's not forget this is a 19-clause Bill. Although the police and Press attention is on criminalising the payment of sex, it is only one clause of the Bill.
Update: 1st stage passed
24th September 2013. See review from
belfasttelegraph.co.uk
The Northern Ireland Assembly has passed Maurice Morrow's private members' bill to criminalise men for buying sex onto its next stage in the Assembly.
NI21 leader Basil McCrea was unimpressed. He said:
Sooner or
later the Assembly has to grow up; if a bill will make bad law we should oppose it regardless of how sensitive and emotive the topic is.
To do otherwise is simply to waste taxpayers' money. If ever a bill highlighted the need for
the Assembly to develop an official opposition, this is it.
Everyone is, of course, opposed to human trafficking and sexual exploitation (but) a desire to be seen to be doing something should not result in the Assembly producing
poor legislation.
This bill is duplicating, badly researched, (but) will pass through the Assembly because Justice Minister David Ford and other parties of the Executive are not brave enough to oppose a bill on such an emotive
issue.
His criticism followed the Assembly debate in which DUP MLAs warned that strong legislation expected in the Irish Republic could make Northern Ireland a greater centre for human trafficking in future.
William Humphrey,
DUP, said it was clear the Dublin government intends to implement an all-party Oireachtas group report: The problem will be dumped over the border in Northern Ireland because we will have failed to act.
Other parties, however, voiced fears
that the proposal to make it a criminal offence to pay for sexual services could force human trafficking further underground. Sinn Fein , Ulster Unionist, SDLP and Alliance united in calling for more research to ensure legislation has the desired effect.
The SDLP's Patsy McGlone said: ...it is not clear whether the stated objective would be achieved .
The bill now goes on to detailed scrutiny and potential amendment in committee.
