“still paying the price: developing new approaches to managing prostitution”

“Still Paying the Price: Developing New Approaches to

Managing Prostitution”

Chaired by

Julie BindelPoppy Project

“Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”

Hannah Jo Besley& Superintendent Alan

CatonIpswich

“Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”

The Ipswich Experience

Hannah Jo Besley

Superintendent Alan Caton

Pre November 2006

• Joint agency strategy as a key implementation group for the Ipswich Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP)

• Was it working?

OPERATION SUMAC

Tania

Nichol

Gemma

Adams

Anneli

Alderton

Paula

Clennell

Annette

Nicholls

Map of area

Response to Sumac

• Formation of Gold Group / Joint agency strategic group

• Who? Ipswich Borough Council; Suffolk Constabulary; Suffolk County Council; Suffolk Probation Service; Suffolk Primary Care Trust; Suffolk Drugs & Alcohol Action Team; Suffolk Mental Health Partnership.

Response to Sumac contd.

• Specific Terms of Reference

To remove street prostitution from Ipswich

Key Aims

•Identifying the problem

•Developing Routes out

•Tackling demand

•Prevention

•Community intelligence

Implementation

• Specific co-ordination

• Resources

• Technology

• Building of relationships

Strategy Update

Identifying the problem:• Problem profiles• Dedicated resourcesDeveloping Routes Out:• Specific team dedicated to addressing the needs of

individuals working on the streets – Streetfree• Case management• Co-ordination of services - drugs treatment,

housing, health care etc.

Strategy update contd.

Tackling Demand:• Enforcement – zero tolerance enforcement for kerb

crawlers and the use of Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABC’s)

Prevention:• Work with children and young people’s services.Community Intelligence:• Regular briefings with the community• Environmental aspects• Press coverage

Statistics in October 2006

• Operation sumac identified 107 women having previously worked or currently working on the streets of Ipswich.

• 30 women currently active.

• 12 persistently working on the streets and are a priority.

Statistics to date• To date 132 kerb crawlers arrested.• 126 men cautioned and signed ABC’s.• 6 men charged.• 60 letters sent to potential kerb crawlers.• 22 women on management plans• 4 women voluntarily signed up to ABC’s. 2 ASBO’s

currently being applied for. • 12 children identified as being at risk of sexual

exploitation and number increasing.• 40 FPN’s for breaches of traffic regulations.

Challenges

• The aim of removing street prostitution• Getting agreement from all agencies• Challenging negative attitudes• Finance and resources• Making sure all are involved and

coordinated to provide a response• Continuation of the strategy for the long

term

Evaluation

• UEA – EVISTA project.

• Through media and local pressures such as residents and councillors.

Next steps

• Continual monitoring of the strategy and being flexible to changes in approach / legislation.

• Off street prostitution

• Alan Caton; 01473 383102 alan.caton@suffolk.pnn.police.uk

• Hannah Jo Besley; 01473 432703

hannah-jo.besley@ipswich.gov.uk

Contacts

Ann HamiltonLead Officer, Prostitution, Glasgow

City Council

“Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”

Comprehensive viewComprehensive view

Violence against women

Link with other forms of exploitation• Indoor prostitution• Pornography/sex shops• Table dancing• Trafficking

National and international context

Glasgow’s approach to prostitutionGlasgow’s approach to prostitution Social inclusion/equality issue

Concern for women, families and communities

Strategic

Long term programme of action

Resource allocation

Commitment to challenging attitudes

Optimistic, enlightened and ambitious

What we know –street prostitution, GlasgowWhat we know –street prostitution, Glasgow

1,000-1400 women

98% serious iv drug users

Experience of abuse, poverty, homelessness

Lost care of children

Activity in City Centre, East End and recently South Side

60 women receiving £150 a day, men spending £3276,000 per year

What we know - Indoor prostitution, What we know - Indoor prostitution, GlasgowGlasgow

264,000 visits - £6.6 million per year – saunas, flats

Sex industry activity expanding –stag parties, pornography, lap dancing, limos, escorts, ‘take aways’, ‘specialist services’

Growth in demand for groups of men

Demand for unprotected sex

Demand for foreign women

Glasgow ‘sauna’ website (2001)

• Established in 1967

• The top parlour in Glasgow

• Security and peace of mind are critical

which is why every member of staff is bonded

• 35 ladies at any given time, ensuring you a fabulous variety from day to day

•Choose from Spanish, Italian, Thai, black, white, Russian plus lots, lots more!

Impact on womenImpact on women Physical harm

Emotional and psychological harm

Stigma and shame

Isolated and scared

Rejected by family/community

Vulnerable to targeting/blackmail

Post traumatic stress

Different approaches – different outcomesDifferent approaches – different outcomes

• Sweden 8 million pop, no increase in trafficking, 400-600 level maintained

• Denmark, 5 million pop, 2-4,000 women being trafficked

• Germany, 90 million pop, 400,000 involved in sex industry

• Netherlands – 25%increase in sex industry activity, 80% foreign women

Professor Roger Matthews

Director of Crime Reduction and Community Safety Unit, London

Southbank University

“Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”

PROSTITUTION AND POLICY?

Professor Roger Matthews

London South Bank University

Key Objectives of Government Policy

• Challenge the view that prostitution is inevitable and here to stay

• Achieve an overall reduction in street prostitution

• Improve the safety and quality of life in communities affected by prostitution

• Reduce all forms of commercial exploitation

Why Decriminalise?• Arguments for the (partial) decriminalisation are

well rehearsed• More victims than offenders• Changing composition of the street trade• Little deterrent value• More accessible and less marginalised• Decrease vulnerability• Able to more easily report violence and coercion

Why Remove Street Prostitution?

• Already in decline• Danger to women on the streets• Disruption of communities• Problem of space (designing out rather than

designing in)• Change of late modern sensibilities • Desire to exit

Policing Prostitution

• Police ambivalence• Removal of ‘soliciting’ legislation would involve a

shift of focus away from the street trade and free up police resources

• Remove an obstacle to exiting• Police are increasingly becoming a referral agency• Allow a shift of resources towards regulating the

off street trade and sexual exploitation.

Recorded Prostitution Related Offences 2003/4 - 2006/7

Offence 2003/4 2004/5 2005/6 2006/7

• Abuse of children throughprostitution and pornography - 99 124 101

• Trafficking for sexual exploitation - 21 33 43

• Exploitation of prostitution 186 117 153 190• Sexual grooming - 186 237 322

Fiona Mactaggart MPLabour MP, Slough

“Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”

Question Time

“Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”

Vernon Coaker MPUnder Secretary of State for Crime

Reduction, Home Office

“Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”

Question Time

“Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”

“Still Paying the Price: Developing New Approaches to

Managing Prostitution”