Prostitution…. And The British Tax Payer. 

About The Trade.

Some Women find this a very profitable form of revenue. Some Women are subjected to terrifying horrors and enslaved to serve an ‘Owner’, known as a Pimp. Some Pimps act like business managers and protectors, some Pimps act like Slave Owners and will simply dispose of workers who no longer perform. The Police are well aware of the differences, unfortunately the Law does not discriminate.  

Can We Stamp It Out?  

In a word, No. You can’t. It will never go away. You cannot ban it, Women will still turn to this trade whether legitimate or not. Men will still seek out prostitutes, even if this means facing prosecution and the stigma that it may bring. You can’t stop it. Known as the oldest profession. Pre dating Biblical times… It won’t go away; you can only push it underground and directly into the hands of the criminal fraternity, down dark allies, late night on trading estates, etc.  

Licensing and Legalisation.

If you wish to become a Taxi Driver, you must have an interview and provide the Local Council with the appropriate documentation. I want something similar for the Prostitution Industry. I want a Council Appointed Health Worker to Interview all candidates. Doctor’s certification to verify health. Indemnity Assurance and Health Plan to cover periods of sickness and disability and finally a registration with an Accountancy Firm to verify earnings.  A licence could be then granted to a number of individuals to operate in a specified location, much the same way Poll Dancing Clubs have sprung up in more out of the way areas. (That appears to be changing along with our acceptance of them)

Healthcare Benefits.

With Monthly MOT’s via the appropriate Health Authority, any signs of disease or infection could easily be spotted and the worker suspended for the appropriate period. The Licence would also be suspended and would make Police checks more efficient and much faster.  

Earnings.
 
Ok, let’s start with some simple premises;  

Full Time – Working at least 5 days either during the day or during the evening. 

Income – Being the main source of Income either by choice (as a form of income) or by force.
 
Part Time - There are a large number of individuals for whom prostitution is not their main form of revenue or only operate at on one specific night a week. They are not included in this estimation. 

Numbers – This is only an estimated figure of the individuals currently operating as prostitutes on a full time bases. For this argument, let’s say 300,000 people throughout to UK 

Fees – Prostitution takes many forms and sex is sold for varying amounts. There are regional averages but I want to make this as easy as possible to calculate. So averaging the earnings from the least fee charged to the most exclusive mistresses, let’s say average earnings of £25,000 Per Annum or £2,083 Per Month or £480 Per Week. (We worked on 8 tricks a week). This does not include any deductions or fees to Pimps, rent, etc. This is simply the ‘cash in hand’ or ‘in kind’ amount received yearly. 

Based on the above, the current trade is worth
7 and a half Billion Pounds per annum.  

Accountancy Benefits.

If every Prostitute were licensed, much like Taxi’s or Corgi Registered Plumbers, you could manage a situation rather than suffer from it. If accounts needed to be completed, Pensions contributed to, Tax Paid and benefits offered to those who can’t work, the Inland Revenue and the country would directly benefit by a massive amount. 

Like the Insurance industry in the 70’s or the Credit Industry in the 80’s a regulatory body could be established to control the industry and improve conditions for both the workers and their clients.

TAX Losses.
 
The loss in Taxation, National Insurance and the continued payment of unnecessary benefits amount to a staggering value… On the bases of 300,000 prostitutes operate within the British Isles today the loss is…  
TAX - Salary on £25,000.00 Per Person Per Annum: £1,239,660,000.00 Aprox Per Year 
NI – Salary on £25,000.00 Per Person Per Annum: £781,977,600.00 Aprox Per Year 
Social Security Benefits - Loss On Benefits paid in error (Based on 150,000 claming £55.00 Per Week Over a year Period) £429,000,000.00 Aprox Per Year.

If you take this as a total then the loss to the UK tax payer is more than 2 and a half Billion Pounds per year. With figures like this you start to realise that someone, somewhere is making a fortune from the illegal work of others. This is a basic estimation, modelled on some very conservative figures, but there is no way to be totally sure.
 
Tax and Collection.
 
Legalising this would enable control, funding for assistance, health care, support and more cash for the police force to control it. Unlicensed Prostitution would be easy to stamp out. Prostitutes could advertise (as they do already) and show their licence number. The police could tackle only the illegitimate businesses and check the details of licensed individuals to ensure all the checks and assurances are in place. (Much like Car spot checks). All licensed Prostitutes would have to show registered accounts, could claim expenses and benefit from all of the advantages set out for small businesses.   

Financial Benefits only? 

The argument for control just keep getting stronger. The health care benefits of proactive checks are massive. Control and registration bring their own obvious benefits. Legalising this trade would be the first step to freeing thousands of women subjected to a life of continued forced rape.  

Unfortunately, we don’t have a government with our best interests at heart. They don’t care about the plight of some unless it makes the newspapers (who reads one of those any more) on a daily bases.  If a girl is mauled by a dog, Parliament will hurriedly pass a law to control an entire breed… but legalising Prostitution would only save individuals that most voters would rather brush under the carpet.

Its not a vote grabber and our gutless wonders (New Labour, Conservative or Lib-Dem) will never have the backbone to truly tackle the issue.  It’s up to us…

Men will still seek to find the services and solace of a Prostitute. Women will still find the income a necessity and the unscrupulous will still enslave. We have to do something…