Bylaws to curb sex workers ‘doomed’

The Christchurch City Council will consider law changes to prevent prostitutes working in residential areas, but not until September.

The decision has disappointed residents pushing for immediate action and the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective (NZPC), which says any regulatory approach will not work.

NZPC national co-ordinator Catherine Healey said laws, fines, permits and zoning did not impact on the amount of sex work that happened.

‘‘Our knowledge tells us any form of regulation is doomed.’’

The council has been wrestling with how to prevent prostitutes working in residential areas after numerous complaints from residents in St Albans and the central city.

On Thursday, the council decided to consider a new clause to its public places bylaw regulating the location of street-based sex workers, but a staff report on the issue was not expected until the end of September.

St Albans resident Matt Bonis said the council seemed unwilling to treat sex workers like any other commercial operator, and had given them a free pass.

‘‘Residents are wondering why the rights and values of streetbased sex workers can trump both the existing public places bylaw, and also their rights to enjoy a purely residential environment.’’

Lawyer Duncan Webb, acting on behalf of residents, told the council the non-regulatory approach had been ineffective.

‘‘Clearly it would not be permissible for a coffee cart to operate at all hours at this location, neither would a busker be tolerated.’’

Erica Kearse, of the Salvation Army’s outreach programme, said

building toilets, bins and putting cameras up in a certain area would encourage street workers to go to that area.