NI 1st june

[bootboy]

I know that the great Laura Lee is taking some legal action, so we will see what happens in the future.

A person has the right, as far as I know , to work as a sex worker, in the UK, Germany , Holland etc. The EU allows for free movement of workers around EU countries and the right to work there.Therefore, not being a lawyer, can anyone explain why in very simple terms ;

1. Why would any EU country be legally allowed to prevent say, a German citizen working in that country ?

2. If a law recognises the right of a person to work and earn a living in a certain capacity, how is it legally possible to try to prevent that worker from exercising that right to work by cutting off income from customers ( ie,criminalising the buyer of those services ?.

[SteveB]

I know that the great Laura Lee is taking some legal action, so we will see what happens in the future.

A person has the right, as far as I know , to work as a sex worker, in the UK, Germany , Holland etc. The EU allows for free movement of workers around EU countries and the right to work there.Therefore, not being a lawyer, can anyone explain why in very simple terms ;

1. Why would any EU country be legally allowed to prevent say, a German citizen working in that country ?

2. If a law recognises the right of a person to work and earn a living in a certain capacity, how is it legally possible to try to prevent that worker from exercising that right to work by cutting off income from customers ( ie,criminalising the buyer of those services ?.

The simple answer to both questions is also the reason why the Republic needed a referendum to change the law regarding same-sex marriages while the UK did not. The concept in the UK (for various historical reasons I need not go into) is that Parliament is Supreme.
In other words, the UK Parliament (and by implication the NI Assembly) can pass whatever law it chooses, with no regard whether it is logical, fair or whatever else.
Even before the latest stupid law, sex-work has always been riddled with strange inconsistencies.
Consider.
If there is an advertisement for an escort on a website, it is not illegal. Even if it was illegal in any part of Ireland, it is still not illegal because the website is outside both jurisdictions.
If I read the ad, I am not breaking any laws.
If I visit an escort and pay her I do not break any laws. (at the moment anyhow.)
The escort does not break any laws either.
However, if the escort, for example gives some money to her boyfriend, he could be committing an offence.
Also someone who fixes the shower that is maybe used by her clients could be committing an offence.
As is anyone who is running her a few small errands.

[Oh Kevin]

it all sounds like real hassle to me

[SteveB]

The Republic’s overwhelming vote in favour of same-sex marriage is being seen by some as the people taking the opportunity to give the Catholic Church a much-needed kick up the pants.
The people in Northern Ireland had no say in the law regarding sex-work. If it had went out to referendum, I think a lot of people would have taken the opportunity to give the Free Presbyterian Church the same treatment.

[Curvaceous Kate]

The Republic’s overwhelming vote in favour of same-sex marriage is being seen by some as the people taking the opportunity to give the Catholic Church a much-needed kick up the pants.
The people in Northern Ireland had no say in the law regarding sex-work. If it had went out to referendum, I think a lot of people would have taken the opportunity to give the Free Presbyterian Church the same treatment.

I'm not so sure. The difference is that most people in this day and age will know someone who is gay and has a partner that they love. They will have an emotional tie with that person and want the best for their friend or family member, as it does not impact on anyone else. With sex workers, most of us work without our friends and family knowing. We are not able to share that, out of fear of rejection or their persecution should others find out. There is no obvious link and people see sex workers as home wreckers, as having no moral stance and of course the media keep this idea firmly in place.

[nonpareil]

Well, there is actually, a very simple one. Stop hooking & the threat disappears. The same way, I can make the threat of being arrested disappear by stopping visiting.

But you (not you personally, I mean all & any escorts that put forward this "woe is me" routine) won't do that, because of the financial rewards.

What you have outlined are some of the pitfalls associated with prsotitution, that is one of the reasons you can charge what you do.

I,m sorry, but i do find it hard to empathise.

Then I would say , you don't know much of which you speak.
Perhaps you should stop "visiting " and contributing to the huge financial rewards you speak of(or In many cases imagine)
Or indeed , with such little empathy, you might be as well off packing it in anyway.

[nonpareil]

The Republic’s overwhelming vote in favour of same-sex marriage is being seen by some as the people taking the opportunity to give the Catholic Church a much-needed kick up the pants.
The people in Northern Ireland had no say in the law regarding sex-work. If it had went out to referendum, I think a lot of people would have taken the opportunity to give the Free Presbyterian Church the same treatment.

Sex workers are to be looked down on or pitied (or both) and their clients are to be despised or ridiculed or prosecuted.
That would be my guess at how a large proportion (and likely majority) of the general populace would feel.

[Genie in a Bottle]

Independent Escorts working on their own are in the minority in the sex trade. The majority do have to worry about things being illegal and even those that do work on their own. If they work in any accommodation that has been used previously by another Escort, they have the threat of potentially being accused of being a brothel owner, or working in a brothel. They can even twist it that you are working in a brothel if you are staying in a hotel at the same time as another sex worker.

You really don't have a clue what we have to go through, plus the very real threat of being told to leave premises if discovered working. That can be a lot of fun 10pm at night (they like to do it in the middle of the night for some reason).

So, for sure worry about potentially being labelled a criminal, but we have been living with this threat from day one and there is no argument you can give that will take that away or make your plight any more significant.

that wouldnt happen very often with independent girls as they know the score, you too know it kate very well, and if it was that bad why do they/you continue to escort, but from June its much worst for us clients ( ww will be main targets)as we will be seen as criminals, anyway with the new law I think only the Real independent will be able to thrive

[nonpareil]

that wouldnt happen very often with independent girls as they know the score, you too know it kate very well, and if it was that bad why do they/you continue to escort, but from June its much worst for us clients ( ww will be main targets)as we will be seen as criminals, anyway with the new law I think only the Real independent will be able to thrive

Independent "girls working here a while may sometimes get caught up in raided apartments (where their stuff tends to get confiscated) or have been asked to move on from hotels.

[Genie in a Bottle]

Independent "girls working here a while may sometimes get caught up in raided apartments (where their stuff tends to get confiscated) or have been asked to move on from hotels.

Yes I know but I see some well established independent escorts using well known apartments that have been raided several times, by doing this this can only be asking for trouble