An Oxford City
councillor has called for prostitution to be legalised in the Cowley Road area. Sajad Malik told the Oxford Mail,
“Prostitutes use anywhere dark and anywhere quiet in my ward to do their
business. They leave behind filth in alleyways, parks and tracks: it’s a health
issue.”He added, “It would be far safer for
the girls if they were in licensed premises where they could have regular health
checks. Prostitution has been going on for centuries; there is nothing we can do
to stop it.” Mr Malik proposed that Oxford
should consult Liverpool City Council who are currently setting up a scheme for
prostitution tolerance zones.Ruth Beer, councillor for Oxford Marsh
said she supported Malik in his frustration and that his decisionto speak out “raises awareness of
the problem and of the need to debate these issues.” Beer added “I completely understand
that no one wants it on their doorstep but criminalization obviously isn’t
discouraging it.” Members of the University have expressed
concern over the issue, particularly as Cowley is a popular areafor student accommodation. Ellie Cumbo,
OUSU VP (Women) said, “The Cowley Road doesn’t have themost impressive street safety
record as it is, which is already a grave concern for the many students who
live there.” She continued, “Female students already
feel extremely uncomfortable walking through parts of the area at night, and so
filling it with people who are specifically there to buy sex could hardly be
more detrimental totheir welfare.”Dr Ann Buchanan, dean of St Hilda’s
College said that she “would be very concerned” if the changes Mr Malik has
proposed came into place and she pointed out that “there have already been a
number of cases of students being approached inappropriately”. Emily Pull, JCR President for Exeter said, “There are
already a number of safety concerns about the Cowley/Iffley area with incidents
of sexual assaults and violence.” She added, “I believe this wouldlead to segregation of the centre
of Oxford and
Cowley even more so than exists at present and I don’t believe this is
something that is in anyone’s interest to do.” In a letter signed by Craig
Simmons (St Mary’s Ward) as well as four other Green Party councillors for theCowley area, support was given
for the legalisation of prostitution, but they stated that they did “not agreewith the Liberal democrats that Oxford should go it alone”.
“Our view is that such a change requires national legislation if the problem of
sex tourism ‘hot spots’ are to be avoided.”ARCHIVE: 3rd week MT 2005
Councillor proposes Cowley sex trade legalisation
