Prostitutes banned in Prater

A ban on street prostitution is to be enforced due to the building of dormitories for the new Wirtschaftsuniversität (WU, University of Economics), which opens campus doors this October. The construction of student dorms makes Südportal-, Messe-, and Perspektivstraße, heavily trafficked at night by streetwalkers, a residential zone and street solicitation will be no longer allowed.

Until now, prostitution was legal in the Prater area after 22:00. After the Leopoldstadt district council announces the ban, it is expected that many sex workers will move to the industrial area in Liesing. Residents worry about increasing conflicts, as authorities start to enforce the ban, driving the professionals off their established beat.