All charges were eventually dropped against the migrant women, whose case was fought by the English Collective of Prostitutes. Due to current laws around brothel-keeping, some women are too fearful to work together at the same location and as a result often compromise their safety by working alone. Two sex workers who were dragged through the courts […]
In September 2019, two Brazilian women, Ms O and Ms R, were working together in a flat for safety when they were raided by the police. The police confiscated their phones, ID, and money totaling around £1000 (without leaving a receipt). They were initially charged with brothel-keeping. The ECP organised informal translation from a woman […]
MIGRANT women who faced conviction for “using their premises as a brothel” have had charges against them under the Sexual Offences Act withdrawn.The women, known as Ms O and Ms R, said they were providing sex work in a flat together for safety to support their families.The English Collective of Prostitutes’ (ECP) Laura Watson said […]
By Aaron WalawalkarMembers of the English Collective Prostitute celebrate outside Staines Magistrates Court after the CPS dropped charges against two Brazilian migrants. Credit: Crossroads AV CollectiveThe Crown Prosecution Service has dropped its charges against two migrant women who faced conviction for letting each other use their shared flat to do sex work.Ms O and Ms R […]
Today charges were withdrawn against two women (named here as Ms O and Ms R) who were facing conviction for “a tenant permitting premises to be used as a brothel” (S35 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956). Laura Watson, English Collective of Prostitutes, which has supported the women throughout and who attended court today commented: […]
08/01 UPDATE: VICTORY! Charges withdrawn against both women! More info to follow shortly…————————-Two women arrested for working together for safety are being charged as tenants with “permitting premises to be used for prostitution”. Two women (Ms O and Ms R) are due to appear at North Surrey Magistrates Court on 8 January 2020 charged with “a tenant […]
The English Collective of Prostitutes gathers reports from our nationwide network and the media, and regularly publishes them in the form of a bulletin. These reports show that police crackdowns on prostitution are widespread, that women are subjected to surveillance and raids, are convicted, fined, and even go to prison – all with devastating consequences.SummaryWe […]
I’m two hours into my nine hour shift and it’s a quiet day. We are all feeling anxious because yesterday was quiet too, like every other day this month. I feel a mounting sense of doom at how I am going to cover my bills. I tell Mary, our receptionist, I’m writing an article about my […]
Sex worker campaign groups fear a new hotline for informing police of suspected brothel activity in east London will embolden vigilantes. The Metropolitan Police is encouraging residents to use a special phone line to report sightings of sex workers, suspected brothels or posters advertising erotic massages around Ilford Lane.It follows continued campaigning from community group CleanUp […]
‘Convictions for sex work further limit people’s ability to exit the industry and find alternative means of employment,’ says sex worker Maya Oppenheim Women’s Correspondent @mayaoppenheim The jailing of two migrant sex workers in Ireland has been condemned by others in the industry as “horrible” and “completely unjust”. Adrina Podaru, 25, and Ana Tomascu, 20, were living in Newbridge, Kildare, […]