Legislating P4P

The Scottish Parliament has rejected proposed legislation that would have criminalised the act of paying for sex.

The Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill tabled by independent MSP Ash Regan, would have created a criminal offence for paying for sexual services and repealed the existing offence of soliciting.

It was rejected by 64 votes to 54, with no abstentions. The bill fell at stage one, when MSPs are asked to agree its general principles.

The government did not support the bill. Ministers said they supported the fundamental principle of the proposals but argued the bill was too flawed to be passed before Holyrood splits up for May's election.

Victims minister Siobhian Brown expressed regret that the government could not support the bill, but said there was not sufficient time to develop the proposals and address very significant issues they have with the bill. The minister had raised doubts about how the new offence could be enforced, noting particular concerns over online activity. She also cited concerns that the bill could increase the risk of violence against sex workers because it could reduce their ability to assess the risk of buyers.

Deadline 5 September

The Justice Committee of the Scottish Assembly has called for views on a proposal to introduce the Nordic system into Scotland. That system criminalises purchasers of sexual services.

The system was tried in Northern Ireland, and failed to reduce demand. It also increased levels of violence and abuse : See https://nationalsurvivornetwork.org/document/a-review-of-the-criminalisation-of-paying-for-sexual-services-in-northern-ireland/

Human rights organisations, charities, experts and others, have been trying to oppose the Nordic system, but need your help. (A starter list of 150 is here: https://decrimnow.org.uk/open-letter-on-the-nordic-model/ )

Scots also overwhelmingly reject the proposal to criminalise the purchase of sex. Only a small minority of 14% support new laws in this area: https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-out-step-scots-overwhelmingly-32917246

However, it will certainly be pushed through unless it is opposed.

You can disagree with this draconian proposal, to help stop it becoming law, by entering Strongly oppose the creation of a new offence, or something similar, in response to Question 1 of the Committees consultation here : https://yourviews.parliament.scot/justice/prostitution-offences-support-bill/

The deadline is 5 September 2025. Responses can be made anonymously if desired and responding to the call for views, takes just a couple of minutes. (There are four other questions, around repealing the soliciting offence, quashing convictions around it, financial and other support, and other comments, which can be answered, according to the readers view, or may be left blank.)

However, note that most of the UK population believe both purchase and sale of sex should be legal : https://yougov.co.uk/society/articles/48773-what-does-britain-think-of-sex-work-and-sex-workers

Please respond to the consultation even if you are not in Scotland, because, if adopted in Scotland the Nordic system will soon be forced on England and Wales too.  

Labour MPs are attempting to launch the most draconian clampdown on sex work devised in Britain in decades, campaigners have warned.

Sex workers told Novara Media that the measures proposed by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi could unjustly criminalise their friends and family and put prostitutes' safety at risk.

Antoniazzi, the Labour MP for Gower, has put forward two amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, due to be discussed in parliament on Wednesday.

Clause NC2 seeks to make it a criminal offence to enable or profit from the prostitution of another person, including by operating a website hosting adverts for prostitution. This clause states it would be against the law for individuals to assist, facilitate, control, or incite someone to engage in sexual activity for money or another form of benefit anywhere in the world.

Clause NC3 seeks to outlaw buying, offering, or promising payment in exchange for sexual activity.

The English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP), a campaign group that supports sex workers, claims the clauses could criminalise anyone who associates with a sex worker -- workmates, drivers, web-makers, receptionists, friends, clients. The clauses would also criminalise the advertising sites which sex workers depend on to work independently and in greater safety.

The amendments to the legislation have gained the support of cross-party MPs, with Labour's Diane Abbott and Sarah Champion, as well as former Labour MP Rosie Duffield (now an independent) among them.

Niki Adams, a spokesperson for the ECP, said the amendments would force us [sex workers] to work in isolation and put us at much greater risk of attack and of violence.

Although it is not illegal for individuals to buy or sell sex from each other in England, Scotland and Wales, many activities associated with prostitution are unlawful, including a sex worker teaming up with another person or a group to protect their safety while working.

Adams warned that the legislation could lead to friends and family being targeted, as the amendments do not specify that the individual must profit from their sex work.

Repressive  Swedish law currently criminalizes purchasing or procuring in-person sexual services but does not criminalize sex workers who provide such services. This approach is commonly referred to as the Nordic model. Under the new proposal, anyone who pays someone to perform a sexual act online, without actual physical contact, would be subject to the same criminal liability as those who hire in-person sex workers.

The proposal also includes liability for procuring such services, which could lead to enforcement against fan and webcam platforms, or conceivably even against creators who collaborate together.

Swedish creators have expressed concern that, under the proposed law, OnlyFans' terms of service could preclude Swedish creators from using the site -- and could even criminalize their personal lives, since living with a partner or receiving support could now be considered pimping.

The ESWA, a sex worker-led network representing more than 100 organizations in 30 countries across Europe and Central Asia, told XBIZ that it has launched a public petition urging the Swedish government to reject this proposal. The group writes:

This proposal represents a regressive and dangerous step that threatens the human rights, privacy, safety and livelihoods of sex workers and digital creators in Sweden and beyond. Websites and platforms hosting or facilitating consensual digital sex work could be prosecuted for 'digital pimping' creating a chilling effect that may lead to mass deplatforming of sex workers.

The ESWA is urging anyone who supports Swedish sex workers to add their name to the open letter. See petition from eswalliance.org