The relationship between street- based sex workers and the police in the effectiveness of HIV prevention strategies

Rachel Wotton : Women’s Outreach Team, Metropolitan Sydney, SWOP Rachel Wotton : Women’s Outreach Team, Metropolitan Sydney, SWOP SWOP : SWOP : Community based sex worker organisation in NSW Community based sex worker organisation in NSW Canterbury Rd, Bankstown: street based sex worker area that SWOP outreaches on a regular basis Canterbury Rd, Bankstown: street based sex worker area that SWOP outreaches on a regular basis

Legislation in NSW for street-based sex work. Legal to work as sex worker in NSW, since 1979 Legal to work as sex worker in NSW, since 1979 Summary Offence Act (SOA) 1988 Summary Offence Act (SOA) 1988 “a person in a public street shall not, near or within view from a dwelling, school, church or hospital, solicit another person for the purpose of prostitution” “a person in a public street shall not, near or within view from a dwelling, school, church or hospital, solicit another person for the purpose of prostitution” “SOA, Section 28F –generally known as the ‘Move On’ law or directive “SOA, Section 28F –generally known as the ‘Move On’ law or directive

The environment on the street by 2003 workers were being arrested nearly every night workers were being arrested nearly every night ‘blitzes’ by the police ‘blitzes’ by the police

Negative reports about the police included: Making the worker stand in front of their high beam for 5 minutes and not allowing her to move or walk away, while they made derogatory comments about her Making the worker stand in front of their high beam for 5 minutes and not allowing her to move or walk away, while they made derogatory comments about her Making the workers tip the entire contents of their bags on the ground every night while the officers would look through all their belongings Making the workers tip the entire contents of their bags on the ground every night while the officers would look through all their belongings

Negative reports about the police: cont’ Having a marked patrol car follow one of the workers and her client back to her house and sitting outside with the lights flashing until the client left Having a marked patrol car follow one of the workers and her client back to her house and sitting outside with the lights flashing until the client left Telling two of the workers they had 10 minutes to get off Canterbury Rd and then following their car for 15 minutes Telling two of the workers they had 10 minutes to get off Canterbury Rd and then following their car for 15 minutes

The effects of over-policing on the street workers: workers started to carry fewer condoms workers started to carry fewer condoms hiding their safe sex and injecting equipment hiding their safe sex and injecting equipment jumping into cars straight away instead of talking to the client first through the window jumping into cars straight away instead of talking to the client first through the window

The effects of over-policing on the street workers: cont’ taking the clients away from industrial area taking the clients away from industrial area If found breaching bail conditions, locked up straight away If found breaching bail conditions, locked up straight away pleaded guilty just to get conditions removed results in other fines and a longer criminal record pleaded guilty just to get conditions removed results in other fines and a longer criminal record

Actions SWOP has taken Introduced the workers to a Pro-Bono lawyer Introduced the workers to a Pro-Bono lawyer Jane Sanders is a solicitor for Shopfront Youth Legal Centre Jane Sanders is a solicitor for Shopfront Youth Legal Centre Handed out specific credit card sized referral cards with Jane and SWOP’s contact numbers Handed out specific credit card sized referral cards with Jane and SWOP’s contact numbers Introduced Jane to the workers on outreach Introduced Jane to the workers on outreach

Actions SWOP has taken Initiated contact with the police Initiated contact with the police set up a meeting with the Superintendent and the Crime Commander of Bankstown Police Station set up a meeting with the Superintendent and the Crime Commander of Bankstown Police Station

Result of meeting: establishing agreement as to where the legal working area is establishing agreement as to where the legal working area is police acknowledge church no longer in operation police acknowledge church no longer in operation Police commit themselves to directing officers to take more objective approach to policing of this area Police commit themselves to directing officers to take more objective approach to policing of this area Police to remain courteous and polite to the women just like they would with any other citizen Police to remain courteous and polite to the women just like they would with any other citizen

Further action by SWOP presented to the Bankstown Community Safety Committee meeting presented to the Bankstown Community Safety Committee meeting

Most recent outcomes Specific training days arranged, to establish specific Police Sex Worker Liaison Officers Specific training days arranged, to establish specific Police Sex Worker Liaison Officers commitment to create pamphlet for police, with laws and map of legal working area – also to be handed to the workers commitment to create pamphlet for police, with laws and map of legal working area – also to be handed to the workers discussion of identifying specific locations in industrial area for workers and their clients discussion of identifying specific locations in industrial area for workers and their clients

Recommendations policy directives from the police should optimally come from the top down to assure a consistent and informed approach policy directives from the police should optimally come from the top down to assure a consistent and informed approach Regular education sessions, such as PSWLO training. This can also establish good peer education within the police force Regular education sessions, such as PSWLO training. This can also establish good peer education within the police force regular meetings between the police and service providers to share information and discuss on-going issues regular meetings between the police and service providers to share information and discuss on-going issues

Recommendations cont’ Producing a pamphlet stating the laws and the prescribed legal working area, for both police and workers to refer to Producing a pamphlet stating the laws and the prescribed legal working area, for both police and workers to refer to A dedicated project officer to be the central communication point for both the police and the workers as well as a dedicated mobile A dedicated project officer to be the central communication point for both the police and the workers as well as a dedicated mobile

Acknowledgements. Jane Sanders for her on-going dedication to assist these women Jane Sanders for her on-going dedication to assist these women The commanding officers at Bankstown for their willingness to communicate and work with us The commanding officers at Bankstown for their willingness to communicate and work with us My colleagues at SWOP for their ongoing support and assistance My colleagues at SWOP for their ongoing support and assistance Saul for assisting me with this presentation and support Saul for assisting me with this presentation and support

Acknowledgements Finally, thanks to all the wonderful women who work on Canterbury Rd who have trusted myself and other members of SWOP and shared with us many personal and painful events over the years Finally, thanks to all the wonderful women who work on Canterbury Rd who have trusted myself and other members of SWOP and shared with us many personal and painful events over the years