kitten_caboodle said:
I said majoritively. The fact is, if you do something illegal, you don't expect the protection of the law. Or at least you shouldn't. If they're beaten up, then fine, they need to be able to get in touch with the police. But then, what about university students who get attacked on their way home and can't get a copper for love nor money because all the money has been spent on looking after those who flaunt the law on a daily basis because it brings in more money than benefits?
The cost of the stickers will be inconsequential.
The message that they give out, however, is not. The message is that prostitutes are just as entitled to not be beaten up as anyone else, and that anyone attacking them will be pursued just as strongly by the law as if they beat up your average person going about their lawful lives.
It is this notion that will mean the scheme bears fruit - if even one man is deterred from attacking a prostitute then thats one set of police time that has been saved - no filling out of forms, no collecting of evidence, no pursual of a suspect, no time in court, no prison sentence, no requirements for parole.
And that will add up to a hell of a lot more than the cost of some stickers, so the police can move on to protect parts of society that are less vulnerable, but just as deserving of protection, such as the groups you have mentioned.
