PROSTITUTION AND THE LAW
Snt,—It seems somew,hat surprising that in R. H. Cecil's article on sexual crimes no mention was made of prostitution, a branch of, the law very badly in need of reform. Every morning at Bow Street magistrate's court some dozen of these women are charged with soliciting, plead guilty and are fined, usually 40s. Each case is dispatched in an atmosphere which borders on the musical comedy—rather as though a sort of excess profits tax were levied upon the earnings of prostitution.
This kind of thing brings the law into disrespect. The fine, based on an ancient statute, is hopelessly inadequate. If common prostitution is to be an offence in the eyes of the law,• the punishment should be sufficient to have a deterrent effect ; at least the fine should be increased out of all proportion to what it at present is, although probably a few weeks in prison would yield even more satisfactory results.—Yours
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