In WA state, according to RCW 9A.88.050, "sex of the parties involved is immaterial."

Promoting prostitution in the first degree is a class B felony, in the second degree it's a class C felony. Promoting travel for prostitution is a class C felony. Permitting prostitution is a misdemeanor. Prostituting is a misdemeanor. Patronizing a prostitute is a misdemeanor.

In the UK, as elsewhere, prostitutes should be prosecuted, not just the people who frequent them or the people who permit, advance, or profit from prostitution.

FBI Arrests 600 People, Rescues 47 Children In Massive US Child Prostitution Rings

NATASHA T. METZLER | October 27, 2008 03:09 PM EST


WASHINGTON — More than 600 adults have been arrested and 47 children rescued in a three-day roundup targeting people who force children into prostitution.

The FBI said the roundup by federal, state and local law enforcement occurred in 29 cities, adding that the raids dismantled 12 large-scale prostitutionrun through call services, truck stops, casinos and Web sites.

At a news conference announcing the results of Operation Cross Country II, FBI Deputy Director John Pistole said the arrests were made possible by intelligence gathered during a similar series of raids in June.

"Sex trafficking of children remains one of our most violent and unconscionable crimes in this country," Pistole said.
The 47 rescued children ranged in age from 13 to 17, and all but one are female. Of these, Pistole said, 10 had been reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

A total of 642 people were arrested. The FBI says they include 73 pimps and 518 adult prostitutes.

The operation was part of a larger, five-year initiative that has led to the recovery of 575 children and the dismantling of 36 criminal operations since June 2003.

Child prostitution has taken on a new urgency in recent years with the growth of online networks where pimps advertise the youngsters to clients. The FBI generally gets involved in child prostitution cases that cross state lines.
A University of Pennsylvania study estimated that nearly 300,000 children in the United States are at risk of being sexually exploited for commercial purposes.

"Make no mistake, the minors who were interdicted as a part of this operation are victims of the most extreme form of sex trafficking," said acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich.

"It sadly remains the case even now in 2008 that there remain instances of children in the United States manipulated into prostitution by pimps willing to make a fast buck based on the most vulnerable among us," he said.

In WA state, according to RCW 9A.88.050, "sex of the parties involved is immaterial."

Right well in reality targeting the "buyer" "demand side" means targeting men 99.9% of the time. It's pretty clear cut.

Also why are you bringing child prostitution into this. It's not relevant. Typical feminist tactic of emotionalising the issue and preventing objective discussion.

Well, the article states over 500 adult prostitutes were arrested...and 73 pimps...and 0 arrests mentioned for patrons of these prostitutes....and you say it's not relevant.

What isn't relevant, is the fact that the article pertains to the US, not the UK, and the UK is what DB was speaking of originally.

Quote from dyslexic_banana

Prostitution crackdown unveiled - | MSN News UK - news & weather

I quote: "Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has introduced plans for a new offence for those caught paying for sex.It will carry a hefty fine and a criminal record and is designed to crack down on pimps, drug dealers and people traffickers.Ms Smith said that the tough new approach will mean there are "no more excuses" for men who use the country's estimated 18,000 prostitutes."Plenty of excuses for prostitutes, however; well, they are FEMALE, after all. That's an excuse for everything, right there! Am I the only one who finds the fact the person introducing these plans is female, interesting?

This is just ridiculous and it's an obvious method of demonizing men while enforcing women as victims. Generally, if you deal in something illegal it's the person who provides the illegal product who is considered most culpable. Take drugs for instance....what's viewed as the greater crime? Providing the service, i.e. dealing drugs or making use of the service that's provided, i.e. buying drugs. It's only when women are the providers that they become the victims instead of the instigators and are given a pass.

Should be legal anyway. A business transaction between two consenting adults should not be regulated by the government. The only justification is the pimp/trafficking angle, which would not exist if prostitution were legal anyhow. Why would a hooker have a pimp around if she has no fear of calling the police in the case of an assault or robbery? A private security team would be much more cost effective, (pimps take about 80% of the nights work).

Quote from Travis A. Ramirez

Should be legal anyway. A business transaction between two consenting adults should not be regulated by the government. The only justification is the pimp/trafficking angle, which would not exist if prostitution were legal anyhow. Why would a hooker have a pimp around if she has no fear of calling the police in the case of an assault or robbery? A private security team would be much more cost effective, (pimps take about 80% of the nights work).

Why should a hooker have a pimp anyway since most men are honest and non-violent?

Quote from dyslexic_banana

.....Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has introduced plans for a new offence for those caught paying for sex.

.....Ms Smith said that the tough new approach will mean there are 'no more excuses' for men who use the country's estimated 18,000 prostitutes.

The Swedish model, which does not work - most what was openly done before, is now underground.

It is like a salesman, offering prohibited items for sale, openly displayed in a show-window. However by law, the salesman remain ALWAYS free of punishment. The person entering this shop and buying such prohibited items might be punished.

Result:
The customer is entering the shop from the backdoor...while the front-door is locked - shop closed today...

For what this is all good for: Shaming men...the prostitute is the victim, the man is the criminal...as usual.

In Sweden however, it did not work out like that... there are now recently new laws, which prohibit to offer yourself against cash... you might be your own pimp - the girl will be punished for trafficking herself.

Plenty of laws, for nothing...ridiculous and discriminating...and rarely used, it is difficult to catch people who arrange themselves often with the assistance of gangsters in private rooms by mobile phones and paying cash...

-------------------------------

About myself, while a young man in Europe, I NEVER met any girl from my own country and generally in all Europe, who did not demand immediately some financial contribution from me - not even for sex, just to be willing to talk with me, to go out for dinner and so...(time is money was told to me ALWAYS).

I think, most girls in EU/US in this sense are prostitutes, just the way how they do it is different.

In this sense, such funny laws might be a good reminder for men to become less generous in the future...do not give money to girls...reject them! Use your money for something else, which is more useful.

Do not give money for 'girls' (= any woman), who might be truly in financial problems, like a single mother. Reject private contacts with any female. Otherwise you are NOT on the safe side.

Not only you might face lawsuits like girlfriend-alimony or child/support (you are not the father) if something is going wrong, you might be even accused to pay-off and rape a prostitute...

Ridiculous...

Well, the article states over 500 adult prostitutes were arrested...and 73 pimps...and 0 arrests mentioned for patrons of these prostitutes....and you say it's not relevant.

What jail time and/or fines will those prostitutes get? None. As mentioned by Kim, arresting the patrons is not necessary. The pimps and prostitutes are providing the service and creating the demand.

I wonder how many prostitutes have abortions...

I wonder how many prostitutes have abortions...

Probably alot. It doesn't matter all that much though. Abortion is legal in the first place and a large percentage of the general female population abort children.

Quote from Male-Rights-Network

What jail time and/or fines will those prostitutes get? None. As mentioned by Kim, arresting the patrons is not necessary. The pimps and prostitutes are providing the service and creating the demand.

How do you know what punishment those arrests brought? You're just assuming they got nothing. I doubt the FBI would take the time to arrest 500+ prostitutes and then just let them all go without any sort of consequences...that makes no sense. And it sounds like you are saying that the patrons shouldn't be a focus at all...even though they ARE committing a crime, as well. I think this is total BS.

Quote from TERA

How do you know what punishment those arrests brought? You're just assuming they got nothing. I doubt the FBI would take the time to arrest 500+ prostitutes and then just let them all go without any sort of consequences...that makes no sense. And it sounds like you are saying that the patrons shouldn't be a focus at all...even though they ARE committing a crime, as well. I think this is total BS.

Just for the record, if prostitution is illegal, both the prostitutes AND the patrons are committing crimes, and both should be prosecuted, not "one or the other."

As much as I believe prostitution is morally wrong, I think that there is a case for harm reduction in decriminalizing it for those who are above a particular age.

Quote from TERA

Just for the record, if prostitution is illegal, both the prostitutes AND the patrons are committing crimes, and both should be prosecuted, not "one or the other."

As much as I believe prostitution is morally wrong, I think that there is a case for harm reduction in decriminalizing it for those who are above a particular age.

Why is it morally wrong? How can it be, if both parties are consenting?