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15th July 2009

Statement: Impact of the Policing and Crime Bill on the health and safety of sex workers

English Collective of Prostitutes Latest News, Statements Policing and Crime Act, Safety First Coalition

As individuals and organisations concerned with health and safety, we believe that legislation on prostitution should be judged first of all by whether it helps sex workers, especially women and their families.  We don’t think the Policing and Crime Bill now before parliament does that.

The harsher definition of persistent soliciting (twice over a period of three month), the forced “rehabilitation” of those arrested, and the targeting of brothels for raids and closure, will drive prostitution further underground, increasing the vulnerability of those involved.  Fear of arrest deters women from reporting violence or to access health or other services.  Mothers, the majority of sex workers, worry about protecting their children from the stigma attached to criminalisation, and from the separation that may result from a prison sentence.  A criminal record also prevents those who may want to leave prostitution from getting other jobs, even when they are qualified for them.

It is well established that working from premises is much safer than working on the street, as women can work collectively and support each other.  Whatever our views on prostitution, we believe that the policing of rape and other violence should be prioritised over the policing of consenting sex.

The government agrees that most women involved in prostitution do so because of economic need, debt, homelessness, domestic violence … Why then during a profound economic recession bring in legislation that will further criminalise women?

In May 2009 Royal College of Nursing Congress voted 93% in favour for up to four sex workers to be allowed to work together legally. Delegates voted through the measure believing that decriminalisation will remove the stigma of prostitution, enabling sex workers to access the health services that they need.

New Zealand successfully introduced decriminalisation six years ago on the basis that the health and safety of sex workers was paramount, and that to achieve it sex workers and their organisations had to be involved in the legislative process.

We urge the government to drop the new measures and look at New Zealand as the best way forward.                                                                                                        15 July 2009

Signed by:

Andrea SpyropoulosRoyal College of Nursing
Revd Andrew DotchinWhitton Rectory, Ipswich
Anthea Martin*Middlesex University
April WarehamNational Users Network
Dr Belinda Brooks-GordonReader in Psychology & Social Policy, Birkbeck College, UoL
Cari MitchellEnglish Collective of Prostitutes
Catherine StephensInternational Union of Sex Workers
Charlotte Gage*Women’s Resource Centre
Chris CoverdaleMake Wars History
Clayton LittlewoodSoho author and playwright
Colin FrancomeProfessor of Sociology of Health, Middlesex University
Bridget AndersonCentre on Migration Policy & Society. Univ of Oxford
Dan LepardGuardian food writer & author
Dave Renton, barristerGarden Court Chambers
Revd David GilmoreRector, Parish of St Anne with St Thomas & St Peter, Soho
Felicity de ZuluetaConsultant Psychotherapist & Honorary Senior Lecturer, KCL
Frances AckroydMinister, United Reformed Church
Frances HarperDocumentary film-maker
Georgina PerryOpen Doors Service Manager, CHPCT
Geraldine Black*Community Links
Gemma Amran*Public Concern at Work
Ginnie LangdonEnfield Women’s Centre
Gordon MorseFellow, Royal College of General Practitioners
Graham DobkinManchester Action on Street Health (MASH)
Gregory KingWorking Men Project, St Mary’s Hospital
A.C. HigginsHealth promotion specialist, CLASH
Ian Macdonald QCGarden Court Chambers, 57-60 Lincoln’s Inn Fields
James MannionSex work advisor, Soho Boyz
Jane PitcherPost graduate student, Loughborough University
Jane AyresPraed Street Project, St Mary’s Hospital
Jean JohnsonWomen’s Institute, Hampshire Federation
Jenepher Parry*South Solent University, School of Law
Jennifer Peacy*Durham University
Joan ShentonImmunity Resource Foundation
John Davies FRSAVisiting Research Fellow at WitsWaterand University,
Julia O’Connell DavidsonProf. of Sociology & Social Policy, Uni of Nottingham
Hon. Juliet PestonSoho Society member Executive Committee
Justin GaffneySohoBoyz
Kay AdsheadPoet, playwright and director, author of Thatcher’s Women
Laura SchwartzFeminist Fightback
Lee BrookerSW5 Project & Terrence Higgins Trust
Lisa LongstaffWomen Against Rape
Dr Maggie O’NeillDept. Social Sciences, Loughborough University
R MannahStructures Treatment Practitioner, Westminster Drugs Project
Matt SouthwellRespect Drug User Network
Michael KalmonovitzPayday Men’s Network
Michelle FarleySexual Health on Call
Milly PlaterCPN / Specialist nurse in substance misuse
Niamh EastwoodRelease, Head of Legal Services and Deputy Director
Dr Nicola SmithSenior Lecturer, University of Birmingham
Dr Nick MaiSenior Research Officer, London Metropolitan University
Niki AdamsLegal Action for Women
Nina LopezGlobal Women’s Strike
Rev Paul NicolsonZacchaeus 2000 Trust
Paul RidgeAssociate, Bindmans LLP
Robert LambertBranch Secretary, Colchester Unite Central Branch 1861.
Rosie CampbellUK Network of Sex Work Projects
Sabrina Miller*Tower Hamlets Drug Project
Sandra GibsonInner South Community Health Service RhED Program
Sebastian HorsleySoho resident, artist, writer
Siobhan KilkennyWorking with sex workers and drugs users, Huddersfield
Stella WhitehouseS.A.V.E. Sandwell self-help user group
Sue ConlanTyndallwoods solicitors
Struan RodgerActor
Sue JohnsonProstitute Outreach Workers, Nottingham
Susan MayerSecular Feminists
Steve FreerRespect National Users Network
Tara QuadletTurning Point, Birmingham, User volunteer
Teresa MackayIpswich Trades Council
Tracey ChanilerHammersmith & Fulham DATT Team
Tricia ClarkeCommunication Workers Union Women’s Advisory Cttee
Valerie J EvansFormer Chair Women’s National Commission
Wendy Mitchell*Sefton Drugs Action Team
Will Stone*Avon and Bristol Law Centre

* Signed in a personal capacity

Contact: Safety First Coalition, 230A Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2AB
ecp@prostitutescollective.net   020 7482 2496

US Fearing arrest and/or deportation will mean fewer women will report rape or other violence BBC News: Soho sex workers thank residents

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