The society's interest in moral development is more important than the other
disputable aspects of the ban on prostitution, the court said.
Municipalities can issue decrees regulating prostitution as there is no law on
the issue. Not even are municipalities obliged to specify the places where
offering of sexual services is banned. It suffices to mark all public places as
covered by the ban.
The decree issued by the council of north Bohemian centre Usti nad Labem
concerned public order. Among others, it restricted music performances, noise,
begging, the activities of circuses and similar facilities. The Constitutional
Court has abolished all these provisions on various grounds, saying that
municipalities often set duties and principles they are not authorised to set
or that are already defined by valid legislation.
Some time ago the Constitutional Court called on the Interior Ministry to
better instruct municipalities about their powers.
"We don't want to go counter to legislation or argue with the Interior
Ministry. We're only trying to solve our residents' everyday problems," Usti
nad Labem Mayor Jan Kubata said.
