![\"Police](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_Police-Scotlands-budget.jpg\")
Police Scotland Clyde Gateway headquarters at Dalmarnock(Image: PA)<\/p>\nEXCLUSIVE: The single force revealed their stance in a consultation response.Police Scotland Clyde Gateway headquarters at Dalmarnock(Image: PA)<\/p>\n
Police Scotland have backed plans by a former SNP Minister to criminalise buying sex<\/a>.<\/p>\n The single force supports a clampdown on \u201cexploitation\u201d and has also thrown its weight behind proposals to decriminalise selling sex<\/a>.<\/p>\n Alba MSP Ash Regan\u2019s Bill would make buying sex a criminal offence, with those convicted facing fines of up to \u00a310,000 and possible jail sentences<\/a>.<\/p>\n She also wants to quash the convictions of prostitutes who have previously been convicted.<\/p>\n In their response to the Bill, the Specialist Crime Division of Police Scotland wrote: \u201cPolice Scotland are fully supportive that buying sex is a form of exploitation and should be covered by law.\u201d<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the force confirmed this means they support criminalising sex buying.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Cabinet Secretary says John Swinney was \u2018representing Scotland\u2019 at state banquet for Donald Trump<\/a>READ MORE: SNP Government warned of \u00a3770m black hole in Adult Disability Payment<\/a><\/p>\n Regan\u2019s bill also proposes to repeal parts of decades-old legislation that criminalises prostitutes for \u201cloitering, soliciting or importuning in a public place\u201d.<\/p>\n The police said they are \u201cfully supportive\u201d of the Regan proposal in this area: \u201cWe understand that people sell sex for a number of reasons and that some will need to sell sex in order to survive.<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand that the majority of those that sell sex can be very vulnerable and most at risk of violence and therefore should be signposted for support, if required, rather than being criminalised.\u201d<\/p>\n On striking out historic convictions, they wrote: \u201cWe understand that people who have convictions under s46 [the relevant law] can be impacted in a number of negative ways, including securing employment. This can be counterproductive in trying to assist people who are ready and looking to exit from prostitution.\u201d<\/p>\n Regan welcomed the police support: \u201cPolice Scotland\u2019s unequivocal support for criminalising the purchase of sex, core to my Unbuyable Bill, is a landmark moment in Scotland\u2019s efforts to tackle commercial sexual exploitation.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir response confirms what survivors, women\u2019s organisations and international evidence have long told us: buying sex is a form of exploitation and must be criminalised.<\/p>\n \u201cI particularly welcome Police Scotland\u2019s recognition that those exploited in prostitution are among the most vulnerable in society and should be supported to recover, not criminalised. Their full support for quashing historic convictions and placing a statutory duty on ministers to provide support shows a clear understanding of the urgent need for this Bill.<\/p>\n She added: \u201cPolice Scotland also highlighted the dangerous gap in the law when it comes to policing off-street sexual exploitation that my Unbuyable Bill directly addresses. Weak and inconsistent laws do not help the police to keep us safe.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly by making it clear that Scotland will no longer tolerate the organised exploitation of the sex trade can our police have the powers they need to protect the vulnerable in prostitution.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Scottish Parliament must now listen to the evidence, respect the voices of survivors and act decisively to end the demand that drives prostitution and trafficking. With survivors, frontline services, international precedent and now Scotland\u2019s police force behind this Bill, the case for change could not be stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n However, the Crown Office were less enthusiastic about the Regan proposals.<\/p>\n In their response, the prosecution body said they recognised prostitution as a form of \u201ccommercial sexual exploitation\u201d and the women involved as \u201cvictims of gender-based violence\u201d.<\/p>\n But they noted: \u201cCOPFS is concerned that the introduction of the proposed new offence will raise expectations there will be more prosecutions of those purchasing sexual acts.<\/p>\n \u201cCOPFS notes the relatively low numbers of prosecutions in Ireland and Northern Ireland following the introduction in those jurisdictions of an offence criminalising the buyer.<\/p>\n \u201cCOPFS is mindful of the challenges experienced by police and prosecutors in Ireland and Northern Ireland enforcing the legislation from the various published reports which reviewed the legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n In another response, the PCS trade union expressed opposition to the Bill: \u201cCriminalising the purchasing of sexual acts or services pushes workers into working conditions that are more dangerous or precarious, such as working alone or outdoors.\u201d<\/p>\n Regan was a junior Minister in Nicola Sturgeon\u2019s Government before resigning over plans to make it easier for trans people to change gender. She later joined Alba.<\/p>\n![\"Ash](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758226697_184_0_JS369782969.jpg\")
Ash Regan MSP(Image: REACH PLC)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_Bid-to-criminalise-prostitution.jpg\")
(Image: PA)<\/p>\n