'Criminalising sex buyers is the critical next step'

Independent Edinburgh Eastern MSP Ash Regan says justice bodies, frontline support organisations, the majority of the public and many MSPs now support the principle of her Bill to criminalise the buying of sex.

- by Ian Swanson

And she argued consensus could be reached to get the law change passed by the Scottish Parliament before it breaks up for next May's Holyrood elections.

She said: "The Scottish Government has a longstanding commitment to tackling commercial sexual exploitation and I believe that commitment is shared by a majority of members in the Scottish Parliament.

"Criminalising sex buyers is the critical next step in shifting societal attitudes around male violence against women. It is a view supported by an overwhelming majority of the public and I believe a consensus can be found across parliament to achieve it in this session."