NUM’s Statement on the Stage 1 Report for the proposed ‘Prostitution’ bill in Scotland
23 January 2026
On 23rd January, the Criminal Justice Committee published their Stage 1 report of proposed legislation: ‘Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill’. View the full publication on the Scottish Parliament Website and click here for a summary by the Committee: Scottish Parliament Committee sets out its views on the general principles of the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament Website. Below is our statement:
“NUM welcomes the committee’s unanimous conclusion that the Bill’s sponsor has failed to ‘properly engage with, and address, the genuine concerns’ that criminalising the purchase of sex will increase harm to sex workers, by driving the sector underground.
“We note that even the members of the committee who support the Bill acknowledge that it would require ‘substantial amendment’, given the flaws within it – something that there is clearly not enough time to pursue within the tight parliamentary timetable.
“Any future review of legislation must involve close consultation with those carrying out sex work. They are clear that outlawing the purchase of sex would only serve to make life more difficult and dangerous for them, by reducing their ability to screen clients and driving activity into riskier settings.”
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