Prostitute Cautions
Thousands of women in the UK have received a ‘prostitute’s caution’ – a specific type of caution reserved for the punishment of sex workers. “Prostitute’s cautions” block us from leaving sex work, undermine safety and push us further into poverty. There is no right of appeal and the caution remains on someone’s record until they are 100 years old! See our campaign ‘Proceed Without Caution’.
Event: Parliamentary launch – Proceed Without Caution, 12 November
Parliamentary launch of PROCEED WITHOUT CAUTION: The Impact of “Prostitute’s Cautions” and Convictions on Sex Workers’ Lives Organised by the English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP) Hosted by Nadia Whittome MP Tuesday 12th November, 18:00-20:00 House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA (Committee Room 10) Plus UK launch of: “Exposed from All Sides: The Role of Policing […]
The Lead: Labelled Forever – The Policing Tool Ruining Sex Workers’ Lives
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 […]
Proceed Without Caution – launch of new report
Download the report and read more about the campaign here. On the 11th of October 2023, the English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP) launched their report “Proceed Without Caution: The Impact of Prostitute Cautions and Convictions on Sex Workers’ lives”. Twelve sex workers, four of whom are women of colour, were interviewed for the report and describe the […]
Statement: ECP on the History of Prostitution Expunged (HOPE) Campaign Launch 28 September 2021
We support the application to the European Court of Human Rights (EHRC) to decriminalise loitering and soliciting and expunge criminal records. It is much needed and we hope it is successful.However, the campaign which initiated this legal action specifically states that it does not support the decriminalisation of sex work. This is divisive and flies […]
Independent: High Court legal fight over criminal records
Women groomed into prostitution as teenagers launch High Court legal fight over criminal records ‘Why should I continue to be judged and stigmatised so many years after I got away from the hellish life I entered as a teenager?’ asks woman involved in case Maya Oppenheim Women’s Correspondent @mayaoppenheim Women who were coerced into prostitution as […]
Statement: “We’re No Criminals!”
We send our best wishes and support to the three women who tomorrow, 21 January 2019, are bringing a legal case to the High Court challenging street prostitution legislation. The English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP) is a network of sex workers working both on the streets and indoors campaigning for decriminalisation and safety. We fight […]
Statement: SWARM and ECP celebrate former prostitutes’ high court win
SWARM and ECP congratulate the three women who last week won in court the right not to reveal their criminal convictions for prostitution to prospective employers.The women have multiple convictions for soliciting or loitering under the Street Offences Act, and their records will be amended to filter out these convictions. The women in this landmark […]
Statement: In support of High Court legal challenge
We send our support to the women today challenging the law that requires people to disclose criminal convictions for prostitution.Hundreds of women a year are criminalised under the prostitution laws.[1] Women of colour, migrant and trans women are most likely to be targeted. To decriminalise sex workers as this action demands would be in line […]
Statement: Part-time street worker
I work on the streets part-time so it isn’t feasible for me to have a flat on my own, but if I could work with a friend from a flat I would do that because it would be safer. I wouldn’t be having to look over my shoulder for the police all the time. Because […]