Read also: Carsharing vehicles used by Swiss prostitutes. Authorities had said they wanted to provide sex workers with a place where they could ply their trade safely. They also argued creating the sex boxes would stop people trafficking by criminal groups and help reduce the underground sex trade.
Before the sex boxes were introduced, prostitutes gathered on the riverside Sihlquai area near Zurich main train station, and violence was a daily reality, the social services department said in a statement on Wednesday.
The department also noted the key role of the Flora Dora outreach team which helps sex workers on site. Flora Dora workers provide police with up to leads a year in cases of possible people trafficking. Around 20 to 25 prostitutes use the sex boxes every night, down slightly from the 32 or so prostitutes who were active in the Sihlquai area previously. Prostitution is legal in Switzerland but sex workers are required to register with municipal authorities and get regular health checks.
Switzerland's news in English Search. Editions Austria Denmark France. Germany Italy Norway. Spain Sweden Switzerland. News categories Politics Technology Lifestyle Moreโฆ. Membership My account Gift voucher Corporate Help center. Jobs in Switzerland Browse jobs. Email newsletters Newsletter sign-up Edit my subscriptions. Other pages Noticeboard Discussion forum Site search. Share this article. Visitors at one of the Zurich sex boxes shortly after the location opened in August Photo: AFP.
Plain-clothes policemen are regularly on site, while uniformed officers patrol the area. Prostitutes using the facility must get a permit and pay tax. Get notified about breaking news on The Local. Popular articles Five things you should know if you are a cross-border worker in Switzerland Zurich ranked world's best city for 'prosperity and social inclusion'. From our sponsors How to save money on your Swiss health insurance Find out if you should switch health insurance provider - and what you stand to gain.
