British Broadcasting Corporation Home. Prostitution in Aberdeen has spread into the city centre since a tolerance zone was abandoned because of a change in the law, it has been claimed. The introduction of kerb crawling laws last year meant police were unable to continue the managed area, carried out on streets around the harbour. Police said women had begun working on Market Street and Union Street.
Convictions for soliciting in the city centre tripled in the six months after the tolerance zone was scrapped. Six people were convicted between 15 April and 14 October, when the new law was introduced.
The police then allowed three months as a settling down period. It's made it more dangerous for us as well because we're having to hide in alleyways now Jane Prostitute Between 15 January and 14 July, 18 people were convicted in the city centre under the new laws. The new law criminalises anyone caught soliciting prostitutes in any public place. In the past, it was the prostitutes alone who risked prosecution. The Scottish Government said it was expecting a degree of displacement.
Police estimate there are up to women working in prostitution in Aberdeen. Insp John Soutar said: "The girls found the management zone to be an area where they felt safer because they saw that the police were giving it a fair bit of attention. So they try as much as possible to hide from the police. They are now working in dark streets and up dark lanes, as well as hiding amongst crowds in the city centre.
Ms Grugeon said: "Women are now propositioning men outside pubs and clubs. These men would never in the past have gone looking for prostitution. He pointed out that 70 men had been reported to the police in Aberdeen since the law had been changed, with 18 prosecuted by July of this year. Those men who seek to exploit those vulnerable women must be prosecuted - that is why we make no apology for this legislation Kenny MacAskill Justice secretary Mr MacAskill added: "Those areas where people used to to have their mothers, daughters, grannies going out for a pint of milk or simply for a walk who were then stopped by men soliciting for sex found it intolerable, so there will be areas where there is some element of displacement.
