Should they decriminalise soliciting

Licensed brothels away from residential areas. Regular inspections to ensure the workers are safe and healthy. I think soliciting in the street should remain illegal, it is unsafe for the workers and the clients. However, would those running the brothels pay the tax necessary to enable the health checks to be carried out? In the past I have known girls who worked in the sex industry and asked them why they had a pimp - they said it made them safer as he or one of his men was always close by in case a client became violent.

I've been to Amsterdam Riverwalk but not to the red light district. Do they have them on the streets soliciting?

Bit chilly here for the pretty sunshade Indi! but guess it could end up in shop windows, like Amsterdam. It's a tricky one. It's going to go on. So make it safe as possible. Continue to criminalise it and it drives it underground, makes it harder to protect the workers, especially those underage forced into it by the pimps. And medically, which protects the workers and the clients. I'd like to see the girls off the streets. But then you need the brothels. There is also the element of excitement I guess. George Michael could afford to have them shipped in but chose a public toilet for example. So would the brothels solve that problem?

Some time back I read an article about prostitution in Holland - that country always being promoted as having an enlightened attitude, with official red light districts, girls in windows, etc.

It seems that the girls there are no safer than anywhere else; alongside the licensed places there's just as much 'illegal' activity going on.

As for health checks, safe environment whatever, I don't think that would make much difference - there are still men who pay extra for unprotected sex, and workers willing to do it.

Maybe not, but having girls and their pimps hanging over your garden wall or having your daughters propositioned on their way home walking down the road could be even worse.
Jean (Boht of "Bread") and Carl Davis the composer, used to live next to Cynthia Payne's establishment in Streatham. She said they were lovely neighbours.
NIMBY?

Would you want to raise a family in a house next door to a licensed brothel?

From the report:

"The committee said an in-depth study was needed to develop a better understanding of the extent and nature of prostitution in England and Wales."

The mind boggles as to how they propose to carry that out.

But if it was legalised, many of the dangers would be addressed. Women would have regular medical checkups, so they - and their clients - would be safer.
I really would not like to see soliciting decriminalised, however. That is a step too far. The thought of seeing women setting up their stalls on the roadside under a pretty sunshade, as you see in some countries, is just completely unacceptable to me.
The industry exists, but let's keep it discreet please. So yes to licensed brothels, but a big fat no to legalised soliciting.

Should hope not. Elderly colleague came back from purchasing a sandwich at Shepherds Market once. Said he'd been propositioned. Told her he only had an hour for lunch! Doesn't alter the fact some men require their services though and what the alternatives may be if they didn't have access.

I agree that licenced brothels would be safer. Sex is a basic human need, the lack of which drives people, mostly men, to acts of violence in some cases.
I don't think it would stop sex being sold on the streets though.

My DH was propositioned once. DDs and I had only got out of the car to look round somewhere for a few minutes when a young lady stuck her head through the window.

He didn't succumb.

Agree Teetime. Maybe concentrate efforts on ensure people who do not 'choose' to go into the industry are protected. Maybe if brothels were legalised, they could be regulated?

I don't think it should be legalised. Prostitution is dangerous for all participants. Anything that makes it more easily accessible can't be good. Especially where the young are concerned. Leave the laws as they are.

The problem is for me that many sex workers have been 'forced' co-erced to ply their trade as part of a larger criminal activity and the money they make is handed over to pimps and the like. I'd like to see policing efforts put into eradicating that if you ever can.

It is a difficult one, which is why I posted it. Wondered what others thought. One the one hand, I think if men (we'll say 'men' for the example on following point) didn't have access to sex, we could see more women being forced into sex against their will and in extreme cases, dragged into the bushes and raped. So the sex workers provide a necessary service. On the other hand, I feel for the people (men and women) who have no choice but to work in the industry. Agree ab it will keep the women safer. Oldest profession in the world, and I watched a programme recently (forget what it was called) where it was pretty obvious, some do enjoy the work. But I would guess the majority don't. I suppose my conclusion, is if it exists, will continue to exist, and keeps people safer as it's obviously needed by some, then why not decriminalise and make the sex workers safer.

Difficult one. Freedom to walk the streets selling sex any time any where? No. Brothels yes if it will mean the women are safer , will have medical check ups etc. So licensed brothels I think is best ,

I am completely on the fence on this one. I can't get past the yukiness to think objectively.