Police must begin to prosecute child prostitution customers

The Police must begin, and begin immediately, to prosecute the men buying sex from underage prostitutes, according to United Future MP Gordon Copeland.

“The Prostitution Reform Act makes it a criminal offence for anyone to buy sex off a prostitute who is under 18 years old and yet it is occurring on a daily basis right under the noses both of the Police and the public.

“However I have yet to hear of a single charge being laid under the new Act. This may be because the Police fear they may not subsequently be able to prove the crime in a court of law. That possibility should not deter action. If a 13 year old boy or girl is openly soliciting in the streets and gets into a car with an older man then they should not hesitate to arrest those men immediately.

“Whether or not they can meet the burden of proof is then a matter for the court to determine. “Failure to act makes the Police look weak, but they will have all kiwis cheering them on if they begin to make arrests and charge the vermin involved.

“I am circulating a petition looking to repeal the Prostitution Act and would like to see that question on the ballot paper for the 2005 election. Meantime however, the Police must act since that was the unanimous intention of all 120 MPs whether they did or did not support the Reform Act,” said Mr Copeland.

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