MEDIA RELEASE
21 July 2008

Flawed Prostitution Law Ignores Dannevirke Community Concern

Family First says that the Dannevirke community has felt the full impact of the ideologically flawed decriminalisation of prostitution.

“The new law has ridden roughshod over the concerns of local communities, and Dannevirke is powerless to stop a brothel operating in the main street,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “Once again, the safety and welfare of families and children is being put second to business ventures and male clientele.”

“This has been the predicted outcome of the law. Other problems include an increase in street prostitution, brothels operating in residential areas, the association of brothels and prostitutes with drugs, alcohol, and used condoms littering the area, and increased teenage prostitution (involving girls reportedly as young as 11).”

“Despite attempts by the Dannevirke Community (and other local communities in Manukau and Wellington) to gain control over this type of behaviour, politicians continue to block attempts to empower local communities. Laws governing the availability of alcohol and numbers of pokie machines have also ignored the concerns and welfare of local communities and families.”

Family First is calling on the government to empower local councils to be able to respond to the concerns of families.

“The decriminalisation of prostitution has failed prostitutes by encouraging them to think that prostitution can be safe – which it can never be. But now the law is also failing our communities and families. We must change it before it is too late,” says Mr McCoskrie.

ENDS

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