Fiona Taylor appointed as Chair.
Former Deputy Chief Constable of Police Scotland Fiona Taylor has
been appointed to lead an independent Commission which will
consider how to safely and effectively criminalise the purchase
of sex in Scotland.
The Commission, whose work will be informed by the views and
experiences of those who have been involved in prostitution, will
provide recommendations to Ministers including on:
- the framing of a new criminal offence for purchasing sex that
can be effectively enforced and prosecuted
- how to manage any risk to the safety of those involved in
prostitution after any new offence is introduced
- how to best provide practical, sustainable support for those
who wish to exit prostitution
- further work to challenge and deter men's demand for
prostitution.
Ministers committed to establishing a Commission following a
recommendation by the Scottish Parliament's Criminal Justice
Committee in their Stage 1 Report on the Prostitution (Offences
and Support) (Scotland) Bill. Ministers will work with Ms Taylor
to finalise the Commission's terms of reference and a panel of
experts will be appointed to support her in due course. The
Commission will report to Ministers within a year of its first
meeting.
Justice Secretary said:
“I am clear that prostitution is violence against women and girls
and the purchase of sex should be criminalised. That is why we
are following the Criminal Justice Committee's recommendation to
establish a Commission to consider how this can be done in an
effective, enforceable way while addressing concerns raised that
criminalisation could place women at higher risk of violence.
“Women also need to be able to access practical, sustainable
support to help them exit prostitution and this will be another
strand of the Commission's work, along with what more can be done
to challenge and deter men's demand for buying sex.
“I am very pleased that Fiona Taylor has been appointed as Chair.
Fiona brings significant experience to the issues and challenges
involved in this important area of work, having had a
distinguished career including serving as Deputy Chief Constable
and Interim Chief Constable of Police Scotland. Fiona, like the
Scottish Government, also recognises the value and importance of
lived experience, which will be at the heart of this work.”
Fiona Taylor said:
“I am grateful to have been offered the opportunity to chair the
independent Commission tasked with progressing this important
matter.
“I look forward to working with other members of the Commission,
once appointed, and reporting back to Ministers in due course.'
Background
Written question and answer:
S6W-44151 | Scottish Parliament Website
Stage 1 Report on the
Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill
Scotland's strategic approach to
challenging and deterring men's demand for prostitution and
supporting the recovery and sustainable exit of those involved in
prostitution
