The ECP campaigned against the Policing and Crime Act 2009, because it increased police powers to arrest women on the street and close premises where women were working in relative safety. But it was the clause that criminalised men for paying for sex with a prostitute forced or coerced that got the attention of the media and some politicians who campaigned for it under the false claim of equality ignoring evidence that criminalising clients undermines sex workers’ safety. The Act was passed at the same time as a Welfare Reform Bill which cut benefits thus making it harder for any woman to refuse or leave prostitution.
The government is criticised for not criminalising prostitutes’ clients enough (New law on forced prostitution weakened, say women’s groups, 20 May). But what about their increasing criminalisation of women? Not accidentally, the crime bill and the welfare reform bill are going through parliament together. If passed, mothers, especially single mothers, will lose income support and must […]
PUBLIC PRESSURE WINS GOVERNMENT CLIMB DOWN ON CRIMINALISING CLIENTS – BUT WHAT ABOUT SEX WORKERS? WHY ARE WE BEING ARRESTED? The government has been forced to amend Clause 13 of the Bill which made it a criminal offence for a man to have sex with a person “controlled for gain” whether he knew it or not. “Controlled for […]
By the English Collective of ProstitutesCo-ordinators of the SAFETY FIRST COALITION Third Reading Tuesday 19 May.Using flawed trafficking statistics as justification, the measures target anyone involved in prostitution whether or not there is force or coercion. They would drive prostitution further underground and sex workers into even more danger. In the present recession, and combined with the Welfare […]
Policing and Crime BillHouse of Commons Third Reading 19 May 2009 John McDonnell: May I just say, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that this is no way to run a country, is it? We have had two hours of debate on amendments and about 15 more amendments will not even be discussed. We are talking about the prospect of […]
By: Global Women’s Strike & others (see below)Target: UK ParliamentThe Welfare Reform Bill – State-enforced destitutionMothers, especially single mothers, will lose Income Support and be forced to “progress towards work” or take a job. So will carers of people with disabilities, mostly women, and women over 60. Traumatised victims of domestic violence will have a month […]
Stop the criminalisation of sex workersOppose the Policing and Crime BillDear Friends,Clauses in the Policing and Crime Bill are due to be debated at the end of October. We’ll keep you informed as we find out details.Many of you have written before, expressing your opposition. Politicians claim to be targeting ‘demand’ i.e. clients. They hide that […]
Clauses 14, 16, 17 & 21 of Policing and Crime BillForget the propaganda and hear the evidence on rape, trafficking and prostitution6-7pm Monday 2 NovemberCommittee Room 3AHouse of LordsEnter through St Stephen’s entranceThe day before the final debate on the prostitution clauses in the PCB, please join us in a discussion of the evidence. Whatever your […]
Evidence from a woman who works on the streetsLink to originalMemorandum submitted by Jenny PearlWritten evidence to the Public Bill Committee of the Policing and Crime BillI attended the Committee of the Policing and Crime Bill on 27 January hoping to give evidence in person. But I was not allowed, and was told to put my […]
Sir Nicholas Winterton, Chairman, Bills Committee on the Policing and Crime Bill Dear Sir Nicholas THE DECRIMINALISATION OF PROSTITUTION IN NEW ZEALAND I am writing to you in regard to the current proposals in the Policing and Crime Bill to tighten the laws in relation to prostitution in England and Wales. I am doing so […]
Rape and Prostitution – A Question of ConsentTuesday 3 February 6pmCommittee Room 6House of Commons While government feminists and religious fundamentalists equate prostitution with rape and claim most sex workers have been trafficked, rapists continue to get away with it – the conviction rate for reported rape in England and Wales is a shocking 6%. […]