Contagious Diseases Acts

Contagious Diseases Acts were passed in 1865, 1867, and 1868 for the seaport and military towns, Aldershot, Canterbury, Chatham, Colchester, Dover, Gravesend, Maidstone, Plymouth and Devonport, Portsmouth, Sheerness, Shorncliffe, Southampton, Winchester, Windsor, and Woolwich; and in Ireland, the Curragh, Cork, and Queenstown. To a certain extent they also applied in other towns, and similar acts were largely adopted in the British colonies. The main features of this legislation were (1) the registration and police supervision of prostitutes; (2) the periodical examination of these women, which might be compelled; (3) their detention in hospital when necessary. The acts were from the first strongly opposed as contrary to constitutional freedom and public morality, as giving undesirable safety to vicious practices, as dangerous to virtuous women, as treating unequally the two sexes, and as encouraging clandestine prostitution. Their operation was inquired into by a Royal Commission in 1870, which was generally favourable to their retention; and by a Select Committee in 1882, which reported that the acts had diminished venereal disease, and had increased the efficiency of the army. The army returns, however, leave this fact in some doubt; and while medical and sanitary principles support the acts, and the opinion of the clergy and the police in the garrison towns credited them with good results, they were condemned by a wave of strong public feeling in 1883, and have since been repealed. This repeal was not carried out in India till 1897. See WOMEN'S RIGHTS.