Crackdowns on street workers Archives - English Collective of Prostitutes https://prostitutescollective.net/tag/crackdowns/ Since 1975, the English Collective of Prostitutes has been campaigning for the abolition of the prostitution laws which criminalize sex workers and our families, and for economic alternatives and higher benefits and wages. Wed, 04 Mar 2026 06:21:13 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://prostitutescollective.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/favicon-260-x-260-150x150.png Crackdowns on street workers Archives - English Collective of Prostitutes https://prostitutescollective.net/tag/crackdowns/ 32 32 Statement: The Impact of Operation Pisces and the police operation, Clear, Hold, Build, on Women’s Health and Safety in Enfield https://prostitutescollective.net/statement-the-impact-of-operation-pisces-and-the-police-operation-clear-hold-build-on-womens-health-and-safety-in-enfield/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 06:21:06 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=20153 Since October 2024, the Metropolitan Police Service has been running what it calls “Operation Pisces” in Enfield, alongside a Clear, Hold, Build policing approach. While presented as a response to serious crime and antisocial behaviour, women in the long-established red light area tell a very different story.We are basing what we say here directly on […]

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]]> Big Issue: Sex workers ‘trapped’ in prostitution by ‘unjust’ police cautions: ‘It stopped me from having a career’ https://prostitutescollective.net/big-issue-sex-workers-trapped-in-prostitution-by-unjust-police-cautions-it-stopped-me-from-having-a-career/ Fri, 01 Aug 2025 07:27:04 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=19396 Sex workers are being punished for doing what they need to in order to survive, campaigners argueLauren Crosby MedlicottNearly 50 years ago, when she was only 15, Sharon received her first prostitute’s caution while working the streets in Bristol.“My life on the streets started when I was 14,” Sharon, who asked for only her first […]

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]]> Central Bylines: From criminal to victim – prostitute’s cautions must go now https://prostitutescollective.net/central-bylines-from-criminal-to-victim-prostitutes-cautions-must-go-now/ Thu, 17 Jul 2025 19:10:00 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=19382 Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is being urged by campaigners to abolish 'prostitute's cautions', which leave sex workers criminalised for life Campaigners from more than 100 organisations claim that prostitute’s cautions trap women in sex work, prevent them from leaving abusive and violent relationships, and push them further into poverty. While prostitution is not against the […]

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]]> Open Letter: To Home Secretary – Abolish “Prostitute’s Cautions” https://prostitutescollective.net/open-letter-to-home-secretary-abolish-prostitutes-cautions/ Wed, 11 Jun 2025 14:03:15 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=18195 SIGN ONLINE HERE Or email ecp@prostitutescollective.net to be added. Dear Home Secretary, We are writing to ask that you take action to abolish ‘prostitute’s cautions’ which trap women in sex work, prevent them from leaving abusive and violent relationships, and push them further into poverty. ‘Prostitute’s cautions’ are cautions that the police can give to […]

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]]> BBC Woman’s Hour: Prostitute’s Cautions https://prostitutescollective.net/bbc-womans-hour-prostitutes-cautions/ Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:15:00 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=18008 Campaigners are calling for an end to the “Prostitutes Caution”, saying it’s preventing women leaving sex work behind them. The caution stays on record for 100 years and there’s no appeal possible. A new report from the English Collective of Prostitutes says two thirds of women they surveyed who’d been given one found it hard […]

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]]> The Observer: Call for end to ‘draconian’ police cautions for sex workers that last until age of 100 https://prostitutescollective.net/the-observer-call-for-end-to-draconian-police-cautions-for-sex-workers-that-last-until-age-of-100/ Sat, 07 Dec 2024 23:40:00 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=17997 A ‘prostitute’s caution’, unlike other cautions, does not require a person to admit an offence or agree to it Police in England and Wales should be banned from issuing a “draconian” caution that exclusively targets sex workers, both politicians and campaigners have said. A “prostitute’s caution”, unlike other police cautions, does not require a person […]

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]]> Update on the campaign that defeated a banning order in Newham https://prostitutescollective.net/update-on-the-campaign-that-defeated-a-banning-order-in-newham/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 18:18:48 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=17791 In December 2022 Newham Council issued a consultation on its proposal to bring in a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in the Romford Road.The justification for the PSPO was that sex workers were:“. . . offering sexual services to passersby, engaging in sexual activities in public spaces” and that clients were kerb-crawling and that this […]

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]]> The Lead: Labelled Forever – The Policing Tool Ruining Sex Workers’ Lives https://prostitutescollective.net/the-lead-labelled-forever-the-policing-tool-ruining-sex-workers-lives/ Tue, 21 Nov 2023 13:46:12 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=17771 A 'prostitute caution' requires no evidence, merely suspicion - but stays on your record for a 100 years and blocks you from finding other work. Back in the 1980s, Amanda* worked as a sex worker in Blackpool, desperately trying to earn money for herself and her autistic son. Police were a constant menace. “Because I’m a Black […]

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]]> MyLondon: Newham council scrap plans to fine punters who pay for sex over safety fears https://prostitutescollective.net/mylondon-newham-council-scrap-plans-to-fine-punters-who-pay-for-sex-over-safety-fears/ Thu, 04 May 2023 08:47:22 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=17694 The original plans faced backlash from campaignersAn East London council has scrapped plans to fine punters who want to buy sexual services after it faced backlash from campaigners who warned it would "put sex workers in danger".Newham Council announced last Wednesday (April 27) that it would not be progressing with its Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) […]

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]]> Metro: London sex workers ‘frightened police will abuse increased powers’ against them https://prostitutescollective.net/metro-london-sex-workers-frightened-police-will-abuse-increased-powers-against-them/ Sun, 11 Dec 2022 12:43:00 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=17590 Gergana KrastevaPolice may exploit increased powers against sex workers in east London, a campaign group has claimed.The English Collective of Prostitutes has dubbed Newham Council’s proposal for a Public Space Protection Order for Romford Road as a ‘crackdown’ on sex workers, adding it would only ‘undermine’ their safety.Such orders are commonly used to stop anti-social behaviour […]

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