The abolition of tolerance zones has led to a surge in arrests of female sex workers � but not one male prostitute
Kate Smith reports

THE number of female sex workers arrested in Lothian and Borders has increased dramatically since the abolition of tolerance zones ... yet not one male sex worker has been arrested in the area for six years.

Now those working on the front line of the sex trade have hit out at a double standard'', which they claim allows men to work freely while victimising women.

The number of crimes reported involving women has increased from three in 2000-2001, the last year the scheme operated, to almost 90 in 2006-2007, according to a Lothian and Borders Police report obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

Local residents in Calton Hill, the leafy city centre area where gay men cruise to have casual sex, are to hold a public meeting after many complained of used condoms being thrown into their gardens and schoolboys being approached by men looking for sex.

Women are now more vulnerable to attack, clients more violent and demanding of unsafe sex and the trade spread across the city away from CCTV areas as a result of the ending of tolerance zones, according to the charity ScotPep, the Scottish Prostitutes Education Project.

"This is a double standard which discriminates against women and sees men working freely while females are victimised by legislation," said Ruth Morgan Thomas, project manager at Scotpep which was set up by and for sex workers.

"Women are now more vulnerable than before. The clients have changed and are now more likely to be violent and demanding unsafe sex. The women were definitely safer in the managed zones, there was CCTV and there was safety in numbers. Now they are on their own and having to stay out on the street longer because business and rates are down."

Julian Heng, of the Open Road Project in Glasgow which advises and supports male prostitutes, said: "I would agree there is a big discrepancy between male and female sex workers and I would guess the picture is the same in Glasgow.

"Male prostitution happens in hidden areas.

"One reason for the difference might be that it is difficult for police to differentiate between men who are having consensual non-paying sex and consensual paid-for sex. Female sex workers are more easily identified. Male sex workers operate in public sex areas such as parks, whereas female prostitutes tend to work in regenerating areas and there might be more of a public nuisance element for residents.

"There is a lot of crime involving males too, but males are much more likely not to report or reveal the crime. Some male sex workers carry a weapon because of the violence so they might get charged with possession of a weapon and it might not get recorded as a sex worker crime."

The Lothian and Borders Police report says: "All figures above relate to female prostitutes - no male prostitutes have been arrested. Clients of prostitutes are used as witnesses, rather than fellow accused, under this legislation.

"Further, the number of crime reports may be higher than the actual number of women involved, as a crime report will be created each time an individual comes to the attention of the police.

"Therefore a prostitute may have numerous crime reports created with her as the accused. To put it another way, these figures relate to the number of crimes rather than the number of individuals involved."

The incidents reported to police ranged from minor assaults and robbery to rape. In the first year after the end of tolerance zones (2001 to 2002) the number of incidents rose to 31, then 77 the year after. Last year the number reached 89.

David Beckett, SNP councillor for Edinburgh city centre, wrote to Calton Hill residents this weekend.

Beckett said: "I have had a number of complaints from local residents about the sex trade in the area. Residents have complained about littering where used condoms are thrown over garden walls into their gardens and approaching, where young male residents, sometimes schoolchildren have been approached by men looking for sex.

"I am aware residents have reached a tipping point. To this end, I am organising a public meeting to discuss this issue."

"A long-standing issue is the use of the area by sex workers, which affects the quality of life for residents of Calton Hill. I have received complaints regarding the general cleanliness of the area and a recent influx of drinkers who create a noise disturbance and litter the area. In order to combat these problems, I would like to hold a community meeting so residents of Calton Hill can express their views on what they feel the problems are in the area and let me know what they would like to be done to solve these problems."

Joanne Mowatt, Conservative councillor for the area, said: "One is aware that there is an issue and yes, it does go on. It's worse in winter time with the dark nights since they need darkness to conceal their activities. The police need to work closely with local residents and the gay community. Residents are concerned about dogs and small children picking up used condoms in gardens."

A police source told the Sunday Herald: "We are committed to tackling prostitution and at the same time committed to helping sex workers find routes out of prostitution and the new legislation of Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Act 2007 criminalises the client. Male prostitution is not a big issue for us."