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

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:

* Signed in a personal capacity

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