Laura Backs Campaign against Prostitutes Cards (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Laura Backs Campaign against Prostitutes Cards

March 23, 2005 11:20 AM

Local Lib Dem Councillor Laura Willoughby has spoken out for a campaign to oblige telephone companies to block calls to numbers found on prostitutes cards.

If the 9th London Local Authorities Bill goes through parliament then boroughs who supported the bill will gain powers to ensure that numbers advertised for prostitutes are barred, by all networks.

"Stopping prostitution should be a priority in London. It is often part of organised criminal activity and linked to human trafficking, drug dealing and underage sex workers. Barring phone numbers will have a serious effect on prostitution, and organised crime.

"By not backing the London Local Authority Bill, Labour have jeopardised Islington's chance to see this legislation in action, and have a real affect on many of the problems faced by this borough."

London Boroughs have been campaigning for legislation to deal effectively with carding and prostitution since 1992. BT and, NTL and Telewest have all backed the scheme but many mobile phone networks have resisted introducing barring of numbers found on prostitute cards.