TOLERATION ZONES

The concept of prostitution tolerance zones and legalised brothels within Derby was rejected at a consultation meeting of city councillors. Despite some support for the idea, the consensus among Derby City Council's community regeneration overview and scrutiny commission was that there were more suitable solutions to control prostitution within the city. The commission agreed to back the idea of increased support for street prostitutes, in the form of training and education, and help from support groups in dealing with drug addiction.

Among those councillors to favour the idea of tolerance zones was Derby's Labour group leader and Normanton ward councillor, Chris Williamson. He said, "No-one wants to address it because it's a tricky subject. I'd urge the commission to grasp the nettle and consider the idea of a tolerance zone as a positive step in tackling this issue." Mackworth councillor Richard Gerrard and Sinfin councillor Hardial Singh Dhamrait both supported the idea of legalised, properly-regulated brothels.

Mr Gerrard said, "We're going to have prostitution whatever happens and we need to recognise that. The only way to recognise it is to legalise it. We could make it a safer industry with proper health checks and brothels would be registered with the local authority to make sure they were managed properly." However, Syed Kazmi, a co-opted member of the commission, said, "Tolerance zones, brothels, designated places, they're all socially, morally and religiously wrong. There's no way that a civilised society like ours is going to accept that."

Councillor Paul Bayliss, chairman of the commission, said, "There're one or two dissenting voices but the consensus seems to be very much against tolerance zones and legalised brothels." After the meeting, Andy Thomas, head of the anti-social behaviour team at the Derby Community Safety Partnership, said that it had provided an interesting insight into how the city council would approach any possible changes in the law.

He said, "It's provided a view from the local authority and gives us a framework to try to work towards. I think the important thing is that this is a consultation process. Hopefully, the Government will be able to take its responses from across the country and assess its options. This will allow it to make significant changes in how prostitution can be tackled." (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph)