Committee to consider report on street-based sex workers
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The Christchurch City Council’s Regulatory Performance Committee will receive a report from staff next week on the feasibility of introducing a bylaw to regulate street-based sex work.
Councillors asked staff to consider introducing such a bylaw after hearing from some residents in the vicinity of Manchester Street, north of Bealey Avenue.
Some residents have complained that since the 2011 earthquakes, street-based sex workers have moved from their usual area, along Manchester Street south of Bealey Avenue, into a more residential neighbourhood to the north.
The Council’s Head of Strategic Policy, Helen Beaumont, said the staff recommendation is not to pursue a bylaw.
“Staff acknowledge that this is upsetting to those residents who have objected to having street-based sex workers in their neighbourhood,” Ms Beaumont said.
The only legislation under which a new bylaw could be created is the Local Government Act 2002. After careful scrutiny of the legislation by the Council and the Police, it became clear that such a bylaw would be very difficult to effectively enforce.
This resulted in the Police, who initially indicated a willingness to enforce a new bylaw regulating street-based sex work, withdrawing their support.
“It is the staff view that the Council and the Police are ham-strung by the legislation we operate under,” Ms Beaumont said. “The current legislative framework makes it tough to enforce bylaws addressing issues like this. For a bylaw to be effective, we need effective enforcement tools.”
She said that did not mean there was nothing the Council could do.
“Regardless of whether or not the Council introduces a bylaw, we can still address the issues in other ways,” Ms Beaumont said. “Staff are already involved in developing a partnership approach, working with the New Zealand Prostitute’s Collective, the Police and various social agencies.
Ms Beaumont said this approach has worked well in other centres, especially in Auckland, where there has been a marked reduction in community tension.
“Importantly for residents, this approach has endured over time,” she said.
The committee meets at 9am on Wednesday 11 October.