Part of Questions to the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip – in the Senedd at 2:39 pm on 10 December 2019.
I wonder, Deputy Minister, if I can just push you a little bit further on that. Because, as you know, fairly recently, South Wales Police, in order to try and combat street prostitution in particular on Swansea's High Street, have introduced, with some controversy, the public protection orders. The result of this, perhaps predictably, is that both the women and those who exploit them have simply moved elsewhere. I wonder if you can give us further information about what the taskforce has recommended, because I think it should be of concern to us all that the police have told us that the best way or the only way to get the greatest intervention to support these women against exploitation is actually to arrest them, which I think is probably a hammer to crack a nut there. What can you tell us about the devolved services you have access to that can help the women and, of course, some men as well, out of this trap without the prerequisite of an arrest?