MLA’S VOTE IN BILL MAKING IT ILLEGAL TO PAY FOR SEX

Lord Morrow wants to criminalise men who pay prostitutes for sex

Lord Morrow wants to criminalise men who pay prostitutes for sex

AFTER burning the midnight oil, the Assembly has voted by 81 to 10 in favour of making it a criminal offence to pay for sex.

MLAs spent several hours on Monday debating a private member’s bill by Lord Morrow on human trafficking and exploitation.

However, sex-for-cash ban was opposed by Justice Minister David Ford who claimed it would be difficult to enforce.

In a rare step, the DUP said it would accept some Sinn Fein amendments put forward by south Down MLA Caitriona Ruane.

But the Bill has not yet become law.

DUP Finance Minister Simon Hamilton also proposed an amendment that would make it an offence for anyone to force someone else into marriage, bringing Northern Ireland into line with England, Wales and Scotland.

Last week, research by Queen’s University of Belfast claimed that around 17,500 men pay for sex each year in Northern Ireland.

 

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