# Tell me about England's Prostitution Steering Groups **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 13, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-englands-prostitution-steering-groups/383969 "2006-12-13T16:10:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-englands-prostitution-steering-groups/383969/1 "2006-12-13T16:10:41Z")
I came accross this term in a news article recently - a story about a serial killer of prostitutes apparently working in Ipswich. The article suggested that this was some kind of official city-government controlled body. And a Google search seems to confirm this - the term showed up linked to various English cities and public officials. But I didn’t find anything about their purpose, their powers, etc. What can you tell me? Also, do prostitutes/prostitution have any legal status in England? Are there zones where it can be praqctised without police interference? ---
**Author:** ![rocksolid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@rocksolid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocksolid)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-englands-prostitution-steering-groups/383969/2 "2006-12-13T23:21:42Z")
I’ve never heard the term prostitutes steering groups before so i’ll leave you to google away on that one. Regards your other questions though, no cites but i’m pretty sure i’m right on this. 1. Do prostitutes have any legal status? Yes, they are criminals. Prostitution is against the law regardless of how/where etc. 2. Are there places it can be practiced without police interference? Yes, although this varies locally, and i think i’m correct in saying it’s more to do with the local councils rather than the juristiction of the police forces (probably TMI). It is illegal, no doubt about that, but some places have a tolerance policy with tolerance zones set-up. This is normally justified by two main arguments A. It keep the prostitutes to a certain place and thus away form residential areas etc, i.e. it keeps it largely hidden from view for the types that wish to pretend it’s not happening. B. It offers some safety to the prostitutes themselves, it not being the safest profession and all that. Not sure how well this works for ‘street’ prostitutes but Edinburgh has long had a policy of allowing ‘Sauna Parlours’ to be used as brothels because it keeps them off the streets. This policy setting is probably where your steering groups fit in. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-englands-prostitution-steering-groups/383969/3 "2006-12-13T23:26:04Z")
[QUOTE=rocksolid] Prostitution is against the law regardless of how/where etc. [/QUOTE] Wrong. Soliciting in a public place is illegal. Operating a brothel is illegal. Taking payment for sex is not illegal. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-englands-prostitution-steering-groups/383969/4 "2006-12-13T23:29:02Z")
[QUOTE=rocksolid] 1. Do prostitutes have any legal status? Yes, they are criminals. Prostitution is against the law regardless of how/where etc. [/QUOTE] Incorrect: prostitution is [legal](http://www.historyandpolicy.org/archive/policy-paper-46.html). The act of solicitation to prostitution is what is illegal. ---
**Author:** ![rocksolid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@rocksolid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocksolid)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-englands-prostitution-steering-groups/383969/5 "2006-12-13T23:30:05Z")
Nobody replies to this thread for eight hours and then 5 minutes after i post somebody jumps in to correct me! Fair enough though, i did not know that. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-englands-prostitution-steering-groups/383969/6 "2006-12-13T23:30:08Z")
Yeah, what he said. ---
**Author:** ![rocksolid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@rocksolid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocksolid)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-englands-prostitution-steering-groups/383969/7 "2006-12-13T23:31:35Z")
FFS, this guy’s been looking for answers for eight hours and now you all come along to prove me an idiot 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-englands-prostitution-steering-groups/383969/8 "2006-12-13T23:31:49Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] The article suggested that this was some kind of official city-government controlled body. [/QUOTE] It certainly wouldn’t surprise me if there’s not various groups operating, some aided by public funds from town and county councils, which aim to tackle prostitution from the root causes (i.e. drug addiction and related issues). It won’t be any official body, though. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-englands-prostitution-steering-groups/383969/9 "2006-12-13T23:32:52Z")
[QUOTE=rocksolid] Nobody replies to this thread for eight hours and then 5 minutes after i post somebody jumps in to correct me! [/QUOTE] Just think how **jjimm** must feel by having been beaten to the correction 😛 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-englands-prostitution-steering-groups/383969/10 "2006-12-13T23:35:21Z")
[QUOTE=rocksolid] Nobody replies to this thread for eight hours and then 5 minutes after i post somebody jumps in to correct me! [/QUOTE] Some of us have to work for a living. 😉 Curse you, **GorillaMan**! ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-englands-prostitution-steering-groups/383969/11 "2006-12-13T23:36:27Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Some of us have to work for a living. 😉 Curse you, **GorillaMan**! [/QUOTE] Heh, we both got home from work (via three pints) at the same time? ---
**Author:** ![rocksolid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@rocksolid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocksolid)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-englands-prostitution-steering-groups/383969/12 "2006-12-13T23:37:23Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] Just think how **jjimm** must feel by having been beaten to the correction 😛 [/QUOTE] Yeah, that does make me somewhat happier about being wrong 🙂