Saskatoon police say licensing sex trade is working

Saskatoon’s Chief of Police will submit a report today to the Board of Police Commissioners that suggests licensing sex trade workers is effective.

The escort services and massage parlours all know police will be checking on their license- Chief Clive Weighill

The Adult Services Bylaw has been in effect for close to two years now.

In the report, police stated that “workers in the adult services industry have expressed they feel more secure coming to the police with issue that arise.”

“It opens up that line of communication that they know the police are not there to prosecute them as long as they are following the rules, and they can safely discuss issues with the police,” said police chief Clive Weighill.

The main concern for police, according to the report, is making sure that people working in the sex trade are doing it voluntarily, that they are not being exploited, and that they are not underage.

The report outlines the case of a 17-year-old who was found to be working as an escort. That case led to charges against the escort agency owner.

Weighill said that it may just be one case, but that he believes the bylaw is keeping many more young people out of the sex trade.  

"The escort services and the massage parlours all know that police will be checking on their license and on the people working in their establishment."

The board will also receive use of force numbers 

Officers must submit a report if force is used when they are out on the streets doing their jobs, and there are more than a dozen categories of reportable police force.

At first glance, it appears use of force is on the rise.  There were 160 reports in 2013, that's up more than 40 per cent from the previous year.

However, the increase is because pursuits are now included. Pursuits themselves are up. There were 49 in 2013, and just 27 the year before.