.ltDemand for prostitution inquiry

The Times,
9 July 1963

The Lord Chancellor took his seat on the Woolsack at half past two o'clock.
  
LORD STONHAM asked the Government if, in view of the evidence of the increase in the procuring, exploitation of, and trafficking in women, since the passing of the Street Offences Act, 1959, they would institute an immediate inquiry into the effects of the Act, instead of waiting for the review which was promised at the end of five years.
  
EARL JELLICOE, Minister of State, Home Office.-  While there has been some increase during the past five years in the number of persons convicted of offences of this sort, there is no evidence to suggest that this increase is due to the operation of the Street Offences Act.
  
The Home Secretary is not aware of any undertaking to review the effect of this Act at the end of five years, but its operation has been closely watched since it came into force, and he considers that it has been successful in its main purpose of dealing with loitering or soliciting by prostitutes in public places.
  
While the Home Secretary will continue to keep the position under close observation, he does not think that any special inquiry is necessary at present.
  
LORD STONHAM.-  That reply will only give satisfaction to the members of the effluent society, as The Times calls them.
  
During the course of the Bill in this House an undertaking was given of a review after five years.  Would the Minister look at that again?  Is he not aware that it is virtually impossible for anyone to walk round the West End and not be aware of the further evidence of the evil consequences of the Street Offences Act unless he has his eyes closed, his ears stopped, and his nose in a clothes peg?
  
EARL JELLICOE.-  I will certainly be glad to look further to see if any undertaking for a review within a specific number of years was given.  I would dissent from the conclusions Lord Stonham has drawn about the operation of the Act.
  
LORD SHEPHERD.-  From recent evidence in a number of cases there is considerable public concern about the procuring of and trafficking in women and, in particular, young girls.  In view of the undertaking the Minister gave me on the London Government Bill that he would look into the age of girls being employed in some of the clubs, would he not have thought, irrespective of whether the undertaking was given, that perhaps the Government would be wise to carry out an inquiry, whether official or otherwise, in which they could obtain the facts and information and then perhaps consider whether legislation is necessary?
  
EARL JELLICOE.-  There is no Act concerning the Home Office the operation of which is kept under closer review than this Act.  Flowing from our discussions on the London Government Bill, I am willing to pursue further some of the related matters which came up then.
  
LADY SUMMERSKILL.-  Would not the Minister say that although the streets appear more wholesome, the traffic which is conducted underground is even more vicious?  

EARL JELLICOE.-  I think that is an expression of opinion.  It is my information that the total number of prostitutes operating, at least in the Metropolis, is lower than it was before the passing of the Act.
  
LORD STONHAM.-  Although what Earl Jellicoe has just said is true, the girls coming before the courts are of a much younger age than formerly.  The Josephine Butler Society in its interim report after 18 months' study finds that prostitutes have gone into places which are euphemistically called clubs and where it is virtually impossible for social workers and women police officers to have any contact with or control over them.
  
There is further evidence that there has been a great increase in the number of men who are living on immoral earnings.  Is that not evidence of the evil consequences of the Street Offences Act and the fact that the cure so far has proved far worse than the disease?  Will the Minister look into these facts, of which, apparently, he is not aware?
  
EARL JELLICOE said he would be glad to look at any further information.  

.lcThe 1959 Street Offences Act aimed to stop prostitutes loitering or soliciting in public places. In 1960 there were calls for the Act to be amended so that men who solicited would be liable for prosecution. It was not until 1985 that kerb crawling was made illegal in an amendment to the 1956 Sexual Offences Act.

.llThe Workplace: Nineteenth century
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.lsWR02:WR02_08S
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