News.Scotland.Org

October, 23

With the ban of Kerb-crawlers in Scotland the doors for the street sex industry has been closed, so now those people who leaves their homes to exploit the women on the street will have to face the music of law. The question which has arises is on the safety of these prostitutes whose situation at present is more vulnerable. This new law has made prostitutes out of the eyes of police officials and close circuit cameras which make them more isolated and risky. Even senior police officers agree to the fact that now there is more risk for the street prostitutes.

These sex workers are under a pity state, with the growing cases of assaults on them. The figures revealed by an organization supporting these sex workers in the city showed that about 60 attacks has been reported in the first six month of the year on these sex workers, with only 80 such cases in the whole pervious year. These figures show how rapidly such cases of assaults on prostitutes are increasing. The Chief Inspector Brian Plastow, who is in charge of policing Leith, the main prostitution area said, along with enforcing the law, the main focus will be on assisting the women in routes out of prostitution rather than enforcement alone. He added we are trying all measures to bring these women out of this sex industry.

With the end of the kerb-crawling now the axe will fall on those people who will be caught by the police breaking this law. It was noted that recently after the introduction of this Act, two people were nabbed by the police trying to pick prostitutes on the streets. It was learnt that both these offenders faced a fine of £1,000 for this act. Till now the law makers have only charged those who sell sex on these streets and ignored the main accuse who ask for these services. But from now those people who use to buy sex on streets has to be cautious or this could end them to pay a healthy fine.

Scotland, Oct 23: The SNP led Scottish government is stern on its stand against the nuclear weapons system which is stationed in Scotland. The Minister of Defence like the £20 billion replacement for Trident to be based on the Clyde. The government is determined to use all its power to stop the nuclear warheads being based north of the border.

The idea evolved after a summit including politicians, various unions, environmentalists and religious leaders held in Glasgow. Bruce Crawford, the Minister for Parliamentary business, announced a working group to consider the extent of powers that could be used to stop Trident’s successor being brought to Scotland by 2025. This meeting symbolised the beginning of a process to get rid of hazardous nuclear weapon in Scotland.

The minister further added that an expert group will look at the international law, transport, planning and environmental issues which are considered as possible obstacle to the government’s plan. The possible course of action by the government is to refuse planning permission for a dry dock to assist the nuclear submarines or make use of the international laws to prevent war crimes being committed in Scotland. The expert group will also consider the kind of strategy to be adopted by Scotland during the nuclear non-proliferation talks to be held in 2010.

The three hour long summit at Oran Mor, a former church situated in the West End of Glasgow, included SNP and Green MSPs, unions, anti-nuclear campaigners and the former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Very Rev Dr Alan McDonald. Neil Smith, director of corporate communications with the Ministry of Defence was one among the 40 participants of this summit. While commenting on the summit Mc Donald said: “The campaign is just getting intensified and this is a historic event but it is the beginning of the process. It has to gain momentum in the future to be fruitful.”

Mr Crawford said: “Majority of the people, MSPs and MPs were against Trident. Therefore the Scottish Government had the moral responsibility to use the power available to fight against the weapons system.”

The campaigners appreciated the move of giving shape to a working group and termed it as a historic move that helps Scotland to become free from nuclear weapons. While commenting on this Labour and Liberal Democrat MSP’s termed this as a ‘waste of time’ to debate a matter over which the Scottish government had no power.