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Date Published: 29/11/2021

ARCHIVED - Alicante bans prostitution and begging on the street

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

The controversial ruling includes fines of up to 3,000 euros for 'offenders' in Alicante city

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Alicante bans prostitution and begging on the street

Alicante Council has approved a new Ordinance of Civic Coexistence which prohibits street begging and prostitution with fines of 3,000 and 1,500 euros respectively.

Whilst the Popular Party (PP), Ciudadanos and Vox voted in favour of the new ruling, it has been slammed by opposition parties and around 40 social groups and charities who argue it's an "ordinance of shame" that only sanctions and does not include a social inclusion plan.

PSOE, Compromís and Unides Podem have strongly criticised the ordinance for putting the focus on the victims, fining and penalising people without resources and women who are forced into prostitution.

Catholic Church charity, Cáritas, one of dozens of social groups and charities opposed to the regulation, wrote a letter to all political parties proposing changes to the wording of the ordinance and calling for a comprehensive social intervention plan to protect the most vulnerable people not currently included.

"These people must have the resources and support necessary for the normal development of their lives," wrote Cáritas.

However, Councillor for Security, José Ramón González (PP), has defended the move claiming the "new ruling will improve citizen coexistence instead of looking the other way and leaving the problem to local people".

He added: "We are not going to allow mafias to exploit people for begging or to exploit women for prostitution," and assured there "will be a Social Inclusion Plan to protect these vulnerable people".

But Xavier López from the opposition, blasted the ordinance as a "disgrace" and "a stain on Alicante's reputation made under the precepts of the ultra-right".

The new ordinance, which comes just over a month after Spain's central government considered criminalising prostitution and fining the customers of sex workers, must now go through a series of administrative procedures, which could modify the content, before final approval and its implementation in early 2022.

Image: Archive

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