PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
PROSTITUTION AND CALL-BARRING (19 January 2005)

That this House notes the significant and growing problem of prostitute carding in telephone boxes in the UK, which has been acknowledged by the Government in its review of prostitution; further notes that carding is simply a visible top layer of criminal activity behind which lies a range of serious crimes, including human trafficking, illegal immigration and drug dealing; welcomes the leadership shown by BT to tackle prostitute carding by barring incoming calls to any BT owned telephone number appearing on the cards; further welcomes the recent agreement by NTL and Telewest to support and implement this system; expresses disappointment at the continued inaction of mobile phone operators in implementing this simple, cost -effective measure; recognises that the only viable option for an effective solution will come through a statutory system of call-barring; further notes that the Home Office's original intention was that such a system would be set in place to complement the criminalisation of carding in the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001; and calls on the Government to take the necessary steps to introduce statutory call-barring at the earliest opportunity.

Sponsored by:
Ms Karen Buck (Labour)