❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks information on brothels, police records, and the enforcement of relevant laws. The answer reveals a lack of specific databases and a historical decision to limit prosecution due to legal challenges and public interest concerns.
AnsweredQoN 8757Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many brothels are in operation, according to police records and intelligence;
(a) in the metropolitan area; and
(b) in regional areas?
(2) Do the police keep records of who owns and manages each brothel?
(3) Do these brothels operate contrary to the Criminal Code or the
Prostitution Act 2000
; and
(a) if so, why do the police allow them to operate?
(4) When was the 'containment policy' abandoned?
(a) in the metropolitan area; and
(b) in regional areas?
(2) Do the police keep records of who owns and manages each brothel?
(3) Do these brothels operate contrary to the Criminal Code or the
Prostitution Act 2000
; and
(a) if so, why do the police allow them to operate?
(4) When was the 'containment policy' abandoned?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 November 2012
Responded by
Minister for Police
Response time
48 days
(1) (a-b) WA Police does not have a specific database for information relating to sex workers and/or brothels. Police officers access a generic database that encompasses all crime types and contains discrete pieces of intelligence. Some of this intelligence may contain information pertaining to sex workers and/or brothels.
(2) No. Please refer to response to Question 1.
(3) Yes.
(a) Failed prosecution attempts in the past, emanating from the discontinued Kenworthy prosecution in January 2004 led the then Commissioner of Police, Mr Barry Matthews to determine that WA Police would not continue to police brothels under the provisions of either the
Criminal Code
or the
Prostitution Act
2000
. The Director of Public Prosecution has also raised doubts about the viability of prosecuting existing private place prostitution laws on the grounds of public interest, and prosecutions have not occurred in the absence of a clear legislative framework.
Police do become involved where there are other elements of criminality such as organised crime, drugs, juveniles and sexual servitude in the sex industry.
(4) The Containment Policy was abolished in August 2000.
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(2) No. Please refer to response to Question 1.
(3) Yes.
(a) Failed prosecution attempts in the past, emanating from the discontinued Kenworthy prosecution in January 2004 led the then Commissioner of Police, Mr Barry Matthews to determine that WA Police would not continue to police brothels under the provisions of either the
Criminal Code
or the
Prostitution Act
2000
. The Director of Public Prosecution has also raised doubts about the viability of prosecuting existing private place prostitution laws on the grounds of public interest, and prosecutions have not occurred in the absence of a clear legislative framework.
Police do become involved where there are other elements of criminality such as organised crime, drugs, juveniles and sexual servitude in the sex industry.
(4) The Containment Policy was abolished in August 2000.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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