Prostitution and the Law
- Felicia Crowle
- Dec 9, 2025
- 2 min read
The Law’s Forgotten Profession: Why the Legal Framework on Prostitution is not fit for purpose
Felicia Crowle
The law relating to prostitution in England and Wales is in urgent need of reform as it is not fit for purpose. One of the most crucial purposes of legislation is to protect the rights and liberties of citizens. However, the legal system fails to fulfil this objective when it comes to prostitution, instead serving to further amplify the vulnerabilities of sex workers. Increased levels of criminalisation have led to more hidden forms of prostitution that render workers at risk of violence and minimal protection from law enforcement agencies. Therefore, this article aims to highlight the necessity and strengths of more welfare-centred approaches to regulating prostitution, in contrast to criminalisation. While prostitution is lawful, various surrounding acts are criminalised creating a fragmented legal framework that regulates sex work, which treats prostitution as a nuisance. This uneven application reflects wider structural inequalities in society, with transgender and ethnic minority prostitutes often facing further vulnerabilities. Thus, the law needs to change to greater safeguard rights and reduce the risk of violence amongst sex workers. Central to this reform is the need to amplify the voices of sex workers and allow them to help shape policy making in this area, as they are who would be directly affected by the passing of legislation regarding prostitution. This article discusses New Zealand’s use of a decriminalisation model that is often favoured or supported by sex workers, perhaps it is time that this approach is implemented in the UK. In comparison, some radical feminists argue for the criminalisation of the purchase of sex, overlooking how such an approach increases the vulnerability of sex workers. Ultimately, the law needs to be influenced by the voices of sex workers directly and strive to sufficiently prioritise protecting the rights and safety of prostitutes.
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