Kerb-Crawling To Be Outlawed

Cruising for a prostitute will soon be against the law in Northern Ireland.

NIO Policing Minister Paul Goggins has told the Commons Northern Ireland Grand Committee in London that he plans to introduce legislation to ban so-called ‘kerb-crawling’ to take effect next year.

"We are going to change the law to introduce this as a specific offence," said Mr Goggins.

It is an anti-social problem, particularly in parts of downtown Belfast and there have been repeated calls for the Province to be brought into line with England and Wales, where it is already an offence to cruise streets looking for sex.

Mr Goggins was also asked about when he is reviewing the controversial 50% remission sentencing policy, which has recently provoked outrage, specifically on the timing of introducing the changes.

"It has taken some time to draft legislation but it was important that is was done properly so the law works in practice," he said.

"Certainly I intend to end 50% remission at the earliest opportunity for violent perpetrators, including sex offenders."

However, Mr Goggins admitted that any change in the law would not apply to offenders already in prison, which is also a contentious point for those lobbying for abolition.

(BMcC)