AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, March 27 (UPI) -- A Dutch political party says it wants to get tough on people who pay for prostitutes and don't report their suspicions of abuse or exploitation.
The proposal is being pushed in parliament by the Christian Union party, DutchNews.nl reported Wednesday.
Gert-Jan Segers, a member of Christian Union, says he plans to file the legislation before the start of summer.
A customer who suspects a prostitute is in an abusive situation and does nothing is "jointly responsible for the situation," Segers said.
While not every bruise is a sign the woman is being harmed, "if a girl is shaky, damaged and crying and says she does not want to, then you have a reasonable idea that something is up," he said.
MPs from other parties have expressed sympathy for the proposal, but doubt its legal viability.
Ard van der Steur, a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, said similar initiatives have failed due to "practical considerations."
Parliament's upper chamber is currently considering legislation that would force prostitutes to register with the government. Clients who fail to check if the woman is registered could face prosecution.
