Latest news with #CriminalJusticeCommittee
STV News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- STV News
Public's views sought on domestic abuser registration law
Public views are being sought for a new law that would create a register for perpetrators of domestic violence. The proposal was tabled by Scottish Tory MSP Pam Gosal and is currently being considered by the Criminal Justice Committee at Holyrood. If enacted, the Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill would create a register of people who have been convicted of domestic abuse offences in the past and requires abusers to keep the state informed of their addresses and passport details. Among its other provisions, the Bill would also require schools to educate pupils on domestic abuse and relationships. Committee convener Audrey Nicoll said: 'Our committee is acutely aware of the devastating impact domestic abuse has on individuals, families and communities across Scotland, and the latest statistics on domestic abuse show the scale of this issue. 'This Bill presents a range of proposals aiming to prevent domestic abuse, including statutory data collection and improving school education, but we want to hear views from individuals and organisations on whether they support these proposals. 'We are particularly keen to hear from those with lived experience, their families and frontline professionals on if they agree with the proposals in this Bill, or if they feel other actions are required to tackle domestic abuse in Scotland.' The call for views will close on September 15. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- STV News
Minister has ‘significant and deep concerns' about Ash Regan's prostitution Bill
A Scottish Government minister has highlighted 'significant and deep concerns' about a new Bill which could quash convictions for those involved in prostitution. Siobhian Brown raised concerns about the move – which is part of legislation put forward by Alba MSP Ash Regan as part of her Bill to criminalise the buying of sex. The community safety minister insisted that quashing convictions was an 'exceptional' measure and 'not a step that can be taken lightly'. While Brown acknowledged Holyrood had passed legislation to quash convictions of those caught up in the Post Office Horizon scandal, she said the cost of this was 'estimated to be £804,000 based on 200 people'. PA Media Community safety minister Siobhian Brown wrote to MSPs on the Criminal Justice Committee setting out the Government's initial view on the Bill (Jane Barlow/PA) She noted that documents submitted as part of Regan's Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill suggested that since 1982 a total of 10,459 women have been convicted of soliciting. With these documents also indicating that Police Scotland 'currently holds 2,773 case records involving 791 individuals', Brown said this 'raises some concerns about the accuracy of the associated costs – around £250,000 – detailed in the Bill's financial memorandum'. Her comments came in a letter to Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee, which is due to scrutinise the legislation the Alba MSP has put forward. She went on to state there was 'insufficient detail' on how proposals to provide support to those involved in prostitution to help them change their lifestyle 'would work in practice', including how long such measures would be available for and what the costs would be. Regan's member's Bill also sets out to criminalise those buying sex while decriminalising those selling it. Under the proposals, those convicted of buying sex could be fined up to £10,000 if the case was prosecuted in the sheriff courts – with these courts also able to impose jail sentences of up to six months. Brown stressed that while the Scottish Government backed the 'underlying intent of the Bill to challenge men's demand and to tackle commercial sexual exploitation', she added there were still 'significant questions and concerns regarding the measures within the Bill and how they would work in practice, the extent to which they would deliver on the policy intent, and the associated financial implications'. Her comments came after a paper published last week by the Scottish Government said evidence was 'limited' on the impact of these 'challenging demand approaches'. In the wake of that, sex worker safety charity National Ugly Mugs urged MSPs to 'pull the plug' on Regan's 'misguided and dangerous' Bill. Chief executive Lynsey Walton said: 'Sex worker groups, alongside leading NGOs like Amnesty and the World Health Organisation, have long warned that criminalising the purchase of sex only serves to make life more difficult and dangerous for sex workers, while having no impact on trafficking and exploitation. 'We are pleased that the Scottish Government has now accepted that the international evidence backs this up. 'MSPs now need to pull the plug on Ms Regan's misguided and dangerous legislation, and focus on supporting sex workers' rights to work safely and free from stigma.' Regan has been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- STV News
MSPs call for views on Bill to criminalise those buying sex
People with 'lived experience' of prostitution and others are being urged to share their views on a Bill that could see men jailed for buying sex. Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee is seeking views on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill. The member's Bill, introduced by Alba party MSP Ash Regan, targets those who buy sexual services by creating a new criminal offence of paying for a sexual act. If passed, it would criminalise those buying sex, while decriminalising those selling it. Under the proposals, those convicted of buying sex could be fined up to £10,000 if the case was prosecuted in the sheriff courts – with these courts also able to impose jail sentences of up to six months. Launching the call for views, Criminal Justice Committee Convener, Audrey Nicoll MSP, said: 'This Bill raises important questions on prostitution in Scotland and how it is considered by our laws. 'It proposes changes on criminalisation, the quashing of previous convictions and the support given to those who work in this environment and we want to hear from a range of voices on whether they welcome these provisions. 'We are particularly keen to hear the views of people with lived experience, on whether they support the proposals or not, and whether the changes this Bill proposes will help achieve its ambitions.' The new Bill would repeal the existing offence, under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, of loitering, soliciting or importuning in a public place for the purposes of prostitution. People who have been convicted of this offence in the past would have their convictions quashed by the new Bill. It would also give rights to ensure a person who is, or has been, in prostitution is provided with help and support. This could include accommodation, financial assistance, healthcare or legal advice and representation, depending on what is required. The call for views closes on September 5, 2025. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Holyrood launches call for views on bid to criminalise buying sex
Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee is seeking views on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill. The member's Bill, introduced by Alba party MSP Ash Regan, targets those who buy sexual services by creating a new criminal offence of paying for a sexual act. If passed, it would criminalise those buying sex, while decriminalising those selling it. READ MORE: Ash Regan's bid to criminalise buying sex – what you need to know Under the proposals, those convicted of buying sex could be fined up to £10,000 if the case was prosecuted in the sheriff courts – with these courts also able to impose jail sentences of up to six months. Launching the call for views, criminal justice committee convener, Audrey Nicoll MSP, said: 'This Bill raises important questions on prostitution in Scotland and how it is considered by our laws. 'It proposes changes on criminalisation, the quashing of previous convictions and the support given to those who work in this environment and we want to hear from a range of voices on whether they welcome these provisions. 'We are particularly keen to hear the views of people with lived experience, on whether they support the proposals or not, and whether the changes this Bill proposes will help achieve its ambitions.' The new Bill would repeal the existing offence, under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, of loitering, soliciting or importuning in a public place for the purposes of prostitution. People who have been convicted of this offence in the past would have their convictions quashed by the new Bill. It would also give rights to ensure a person who is, or has been, in prostitution is provided with help and support. This could include accommodation, financial assistance, healthcare or legal advice and representation, depending on what is required. The proposals follow the "Nordic Model" approach, which seeks to decriminalise selling sex but criminalise those who purchase it. The approach has now been adopted in Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Canada, France, Ireland, and most recently, Israel. READ MORE: Met police drop second terror charge against Kneecap Launching the Bill in May, Regan said: 'Ending prostitution is essential to achieving true equality between the sexes. A society that allows women's bodies to be bought and sold cannot claim to value them as equals. 'Challenging the demand that fuels sexual exploitation is not just about justice — it's about dignity, safety, and the right of all women, girls, and vulnerable men to live free from commodification and harm.' The call for views closes on Friday, September 5, 2025.
Daily Record
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Scotland will become a 'pimp nation' unless we ban the purchase of sex, says MSP
Alba's Ash Regan has introduced her bill to clampdown on people who pay for sex to Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee. Scotland risks becoming a "pimp nation" if it does not ban the purchase of sex, an MSP has said. Alba's Ash Regan has introduced her bill to clampdown on people who pay for sex to Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee. The Edinburgh Eastern MSP said: ' Prostitution is not a theoretical debate. It is happening right now - in our cities, towns, and communities—to real women, many of whom are poor, addicted, traumatised, or displaced. "When women are reduced to what men can buy from them - we cannot look away. We must not allow Scotland to become a pimp nation.' kerb crawling laws. Regan's Bill would turn the tables by criminalising the purchase of sexual acts and decriminalising the selling of sex. She is proposing fines of up to £10,000 and six month jail sentences for sex buyers. Criminalisation of the buying of sex has been adopted in countries such as Sweden and Norway. It comes after the Daily Record's bombshell front page about a former prostitute claiming current MSPs bought sex from her when she sold her body for money. Regan told us last month the woman who was a former prostitute came forward to her after recognising her former male clients on TV. She said at the time: 'We know that in Scotland about one man in ten will buy sex, so that would suggest to us that there is a likelihood that there would be MSPs that buy sex, and there would be people in the civil service that buy sex. 'It was confirmed to me today that there are current, serving MSPs - and that is plural, so not just one, but there are multiple - who are sex buyers.' She added: 'She described seeing them on television'.' Asked if she believed the woman, Regan replied: 'Yes.' Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has since called for an investigation into 'horrifying' claims male MSPs paid a prostitute for sex. The issue was also later raised in Westminster by Labour MP Tracy Gilbert.
