British Broadcasting Corporation Home. Prostitution in Aberdeen has spread into the city centre since a tolerance zone was abandoned because of a change in the law, it has been claimed. The introduction of kerb crawling laws last year meant police were unable to continue the managed area, carried out on streets around the harbour.
Police said women had begun working on Market Street and Union Street. Convictions for soliciting in the city centre tripled in the six months after the tolerance zone was scrapped.
Six people were convicted between 15 April and 14 October, when the new law was introduced. The police then allowed three months as a settling down period. It's made it more dangerous for us as well because we're having to hide in alleyways now Jane Prostitute Between 15 January and 14 July, 18 people were convicted in the city centre under the new laws.
The new law criminalises anyone caught soliciting prostitutes in any public place. In the past, it was the prostitutes alone who risked prosecution.
The Scottish Government said it was expecting a degree of displacement. Police estimate there are up to women working in prostitution in Aberdeen.
