“still paying the price: developing new approaches to managing prostitution”
TRANSCRIPT
“Still Paying the Price: Developing New Approaches to
Managing Prostitution”
Chaired by
Julie BindelPoppy Project
“Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”
Hannah Jo Besley& Superintendent Alan
CatonIpswich
“Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”
The Ipswich Experience
Hannah Jo Besley
Superintendent Alan Caton
Pre November 2006
• Joint agency strategy as a key implementation group for the Ipswich Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP)
• Was it working?
OPERATION SUMAC
Tania
Nichol
Gemma
Adams
Anneli
Alderton
Paula
Clennell
Annette
Nicholls
Map of area
Response to Sumac
• Formation of Gold Group / Joint agency strategic group
• Who? Ipswich Borough Council; Suffolk Constabulary; Suffolk County Council; Suffolk Probation Service; Suffolk Primary Care Trust; Suffolk Drugs & Alcohol Action Team; Suffolk Mental Health Partnership.
Response to Sumac contd.
• Specific Terms of Reference
To remove street prostitution from Ipswich
Key Aims
•Identifying the problem
•Developing Routes out
•Tackling demand
•Prevention
•Community intelligence
Implementation
• Specific co-ordination
• Resources
• Technology
• Building of relationships
Strategy Update
Identifying the problem:• Problem profiles• Dedicated resourcesDeveloping Routes Out:• Specific team dedicated to addressing the needs of
individuals working on the streets – Streetfree• Case management• Co-ordination of services - drugs treatment,
housing, health care etc.
Strategy update contd.
Tackling Demand:• Enforcement – zero tolerance enforcement for kerb
crawlers and the use of Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABC’s)
Prevention:• Work with children and young people’s services.Community Intelligence:• Regular briefings with the community• Environmental aspects• Press coverage
Statistics in October 2006
• Operation sumac identified 107 women having previously worked or currently working on the streets of Ipswich.
• 30 women currently active.
• 12 persistently working on the streets and are a priority.
Statistics to date• To date 132 kerb crawlers arrested.• 126 men cautioned and signed ABC’s.• 6 men charged.• 60 letters sent to potential kerb crawlers.• 22 women on management plans• 4 women voluntarily signed up to ABC’s. 2 ASBO’s
currently being applied for. • 12 children identified as being at risk of sexual
exploitation and number increasing.• 40 FPN’s for breaches of traffic regulations.
Challenges
• The aim of removing street prostitution• Getting agreement from all agencies• Challenging negative attitudes• Finance and resources• Making sure all are involved and
coordinated to provide a response• Continuation of the strategy for the long
term
Evaluation
• UEA – EVISTA project.
• Through media and local pressures such as residents and councillors.
Next steps
• Continual monitoring of the strategy and being flexible to changes in approach / legislation.
• Off street prostitution
Ann HamiltonLead Officer, Prostitution, Glasgow
City Council
“Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”
Comprehensive viewComprehensive view
Violence against women
Link with other forms of exploitation• Indoor prostitution• Pornography/sex shops• Table dancing• Trafficking
National and international context
Glasgow’s approach to prostitutionGlasgow’s approach to prostitution Social inclusion/equality issue
Concern for women, families and communities
Strategic
Long term programme of action
Resource allocation
Commitment to challenging attitudes
Optimistic, enlightened and ambitious
What we know –street prostitution, GlasgowWhat we know –street prostitution, Glasgow
1,000-1400 women
98% serious iv drug users
Experience of abuse, poverty, homelessness
Lost care of children
Activity in City Centre, East End and recently South Side
60 women receiving £150 a day, men spending £3276,000 per year
What we know - Indoor prostitution, What we know - Indoor prostitution, GlasgowGlasgow
264,000 visits - £6.6 million per year – saunas, flats
Sex industry activity expanding –stag parties, pornography, lap dancing, limos, escorts, ‘take aways’, ‘specialist services’
Growth in demand for groups of men
Demand for unprotected sex
Demand for foreign women
Glasgow ‘sauna’ website (2001)
• Established in 1967
• The top parlour in Glasgow
• Security and peace of mind are critical
which is why every member of staff is bonded
• 35 ladies at any given time, ensuring you a fabulous variety from day to day
•Choose from Spanish, Italian, Thai, black, white, Russian plus lots, lots more!
Impact on womenImpact on women Physical harm
Emotional and psychological harm
Stigma and shame
Isolated and scared
Rejected by family/community
Vulnerable to targeting/blackmail
Post traumatic stress
Different approaches – different outcomesDifferent approaches – different outcomes
• Sweden 8 million pop, no increase in trafficking, 400-600 level maintained
• Denmark, 5 million pop, 2-4,000 women being trafficked
• Germany, 90 million pop, 400,000 involved in sex industry
• Netherlands – 25%increase in sex industry activity, 80% foreign women
Professor Roger Matthews
Director of Crime Reduction and Community Safety Unit, London
Southbank University
“Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”
PROSTITUTION AND POLICY?
Professor Roger Matthews
London South Bank University
Key Objectives of Government Policy
• Challenge the view that prostitution is inevitable and here to stay
• Achieve an overall reduction in street prostitution
• Improve the safety and quality of life in communities affected by prostitution
• Reduce all forms of commercial exploitation
Why Decriminalise?• Arguments for the (partial) decriminalisation are
well rehearsed• More victims than offenders• Changing composition of the street trade• Little deterrent value• More accessible and less marginalised• Decrease vulnerability• Able to more easily report violence and coercion
Why Remove Street Prostitution?
• Already in decline• Danger to women on the streets• Disruption of communities• Problem of space (designing out rather than
designing in)• Change of late modern sensibilities • Desire to exit
Policing Prostitution
• Police ambivalence• Removal of ‘soliciting’ legislation would involve a
shift of focus away from the street trade and free up police resources
• Remove an obstacle to exiting• Police are increasingly becoming a referral agency• Allow a shift of resources towards regulating the
off street trade and sexual exploitation.
Recorded Prostitution Related Offences 2003/4 - 2006/7
Offence 2003/4 2004/5 2005/6 2006/7
• Abuse of children throughprostitution and pornography - 99 124 101
• Trafficking for sexual exploitation - 21 33 43
• Exploitation of prostitution 186 117 153 190• Sexual grooming - 186 237 322
Fiona Mactaggart MPLabour MP, Slough
“Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”
Question Time
“Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”
Vernon Coaker MPUnder Secretary of State for Crime
Reduction, Home Office
“Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”
Question Time
“Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”
“Still Paying the Price: Developing New Approaches to
Managing Prostitution”