Can a “police-managed” area – one that effectively allows the street sex trade to operate legally – ever truly keep sex workers safe? BuzzFeed News spoke to the women in Holbeck, Leeds, to ask. A five-minute drive from the centre of Leeds lies Holbeck, an inner-city area that could be mistaken for any other industrial-led […]
Urgent, respond to Home Affairs Committee biased inquiry on prostitution Deadline for submissions: midday on Thursday 18 February 2016 Dear Friends, As many of you will know, the Home Affairs Select Committee has launched an inquiry into prostitution. The remit of the inquiry is entirely biased as it aims to: “assess whether the balance in […]
Re managed sex worker area in Holbeck, LeedsWe have the tragic murder of Daria Pionko in our mind because the managed zone didn’t save her from being viciously attacked. But we hope that the women who worked alongside her were able to come forward with information that helped find her killer, without fearing arrest for […]
By Frankie MullinOn Friday the 15th of January, the Home Affairs Committee, a cross-party group of MPs, announced that it will hold an inquiry into how sex work is treated in legislation. So far, so good. We badly need this. Ask most UK sex workers and they’ll tell you the current law is dangerous and […]
Two experts debate whether cities should be able to have legalised prostitution zones Police in one British city are turning a blind eye to prostitutes after setting up a legalised red light district. And from today the controversial pilot scheme allowing kerb crawlers to look for sex between 7pm and 7am becomes a permanent fixture. […]
Decriminalisation would make sex workers safer By Niki Adams When sex workers from nine different countries get together, there’s always going to be a buzz. But invite them to the houses of parliament and ask them to tell politicians what needs to be done and it’ll turn into a roar. Nearly 200 people poured into a […]
POLICE SHOULD BE PROTECTING WOMEN FROM VIOLENCE NOT PROSECUTING US FOR PROSTITUTION. On Friday 20th November 2015, Ms MP faces charges of loitering in the area of Tottenham at Highbury and Islington Magistrates Court. If convicted, she could face a fine of up to £1000, be banned from a certain area under an Anti-social Behaviour […]
The revolution is being led by sex workers themselves – and it’s comingSix years ago, the Sex Worker Open University (SWUO) laid out its aim – to advance UK sex worker rights by fighting its criminalisation. Run by current and former sex workers, it aims to bring together its diverse community, which includes escorts, rent boys, […]
By Alex Feis-Bryce After years of moralistic ideology prevailing over evidence, and policy being formed about, but not with, sex workers, the landmark decision by Amnesty International to support decriminalisation has brought a new sense of hope to the sex worker rights movement. This was on full display at the English Collective of Prostitutes’ (ECP) […]
