Seven reasons for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases (Women's) Acts 1866-1869 / issued by the City of London Committee for obtaining the repeal of those Acts.

Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Seven reasons for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases (Women's) Acts 1866-1869 / issued by the City of London Committee for obtaining the repeal of those Acts. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    results of the Acts, matters which, they must know are not included within their scope—such as the closing of brothels, the reclamation of fallen women, and the prevention of juvenile depravity—objects most desirable on social and philanthropic grounds, hut which are neither contemplated nor effected by the Acts in question. The police engaged under them know very well that the closing of brothels, and the prevention of solicitation, are dealt with by Common and Statute Law quite irrespective of the Contagious Diseases Acts, and by the local police, with which they have no possible connection. Again, they must be quite aware that the reclamation of the fallen, whether juvenile or adult, is not undertaken at all under Parliamentary sanction, certainly not under the Contagious Diseases Acts, but is the work of Christian and philanthropic men and women, and Societies established for that purpose. If the Acts should be repealed to-morrow, all the powers to deal with such matters will remain unimpaired, and all the benevolent operations now carried on will be continued with increased results. The Annual Eeturns referred to serve no purpose whatever but to throw dust in the eyes of the public, diverting attention, as they do, from the true character and operation of this legislation. They know and withhold the truth ? Are they incompetent, or unfaithful, or false ? ”— (Vide Letter in Shield, April 21, 1877.) 8. The official police reports, professed to he made under the Acts, include returns annually, showing the number of public houses, beer houses, and brothels in the several districts;—an attempt to hoodwink Parliament and the public which would be incredible if it were not true ! A return of public and beer houses would form a proper and instructive portion of a report on the Licensing Acts extending from 1828 to 1874 ; or a return of brothels might properly be made in reference to the Act of G-eorge II., and subsequent legislation, for enforcing the Common law against brothel keeping; but it will hardly be believed that there is not one syllable in the Contagious Diseases Acts referring to public houses or beer houses ; nor a single word which deals with the closing of brothels!! 4. Two Inspectors of the Metro- politan Police, recently employed under the Acts, are at this moment suffering criminal confinement. Police Inspector N. Droscovitch, (whom Captain Harris, Assistant Metropolitan Police Commissioner, for enforcing the Acts, employed as a detective to inquire and report on certain alleged charges of abuse of power by the police of immorality,) is now undergoing a term of imprisonment for fraud and conspiracy to defeat justice. Inspector Edward Patric Coffey, also of the Metropolitan Police engaged in enforcing the Acts, now lies under criminal detention for embezzlement of money paid to him in the execution of his duty under the Acts. Such are the men whom the Parliament has intrusted with absolute power over the reputations and persons of every woman without exception, in the districts subjected under the Acts!