On 26 February Members of the European Parliament (MEPS) voted to criminilise paying for sex, http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/feb/26/meps-vote-criminalise-buying-sex-european-parliament. The vote, which is non binding may, none the less put pressure on members of the European Union where paying for sex is not illegal to introduce such a prohibition. Proponents of the Nordic model argue that Sweden and the other nations which have followed the Swedish example have seen a decrease in prostitution since the introduction of the ban. They contend that prostitution is, in effect rape and that those who use the services of prostitutes are helping to fuel trafficking and encourage sex slavery. Opponents of the Swedish style law, including many sex worker organisations argue that prohibiting paying for sex merely forces prostitution further underground placing sex workers in danger from clients. Other opponents also argue that the state has no business to interfere with consenting adults do in private and that resources should be concentrated on combating trafficking. In response to opponents of the ban it’s supporters argue that there is no such thing as genuine choice in prostitution, those engaged in it are desperate persons being exploited by the buyers of sex, pimps etc. It will be interesting to see how the debate plays out over the coming months.

My collection of short stories, Street Walker And Other Stories is free in the Kindle Store until Saturday 1 March. To Download Street Walker free please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Street-Walker-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00HLRNDP4