An end to Edinburgh’s “tolerated” sex trade?

A meeting today in Edinburgh may bring to an end the toleration of licensed “saunas” as a safe place for sex workers to conduct their business.

In March police raided six of the city’s 13 licensed saunas and suspended their licenses. The owners of these premises were taking the matter to the courts, but have since decided to leave the matter to the licensing committee who meet today.

Police have also written to the city council and pushed for condoms and other “items of a sexual nature” to be banned as a condition of any future licenses being granted. Currently NHS Scotland 130,000 free condoms to the saunas each year in a move to promote safer sex, and reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Whilst many do want to see an end to the semi-state-sanctioned brothels in the city, charities that work with those in the sex industry have warned that banning condoms from such premises will not stop sex, just safer sex. Closures would likely result in raising rates of HIV infection and pushing workers onto the streets where they are more likely to face rape and abuse.