“Still Paying the Price: Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”

Chaired by Julie Bindel Poppy Project “Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”

Hannah Jo Besley& Superintendent Alan Caton Ipswich “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 resources Developing 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; Hannah Jo Besley; Contacts

Ann Hamilton Lead Officer, Prostitution, Glasgow City Council “Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”

Comprehensive 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 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, Glasgow  1, 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, Glasgow  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 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 outcomes Sweden 8 million pop, no increase in trafficking, 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/ /7 Offence 2003/4 2004/5 2005/6 2006/7 Abuse of children through prostitution and pornography Trafficking for sexual exploitation Exploitation of prostitution Sexual grooming

Fiona Mactaggart MP Labour MP, Slough “Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”

Question Time “Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution”

Vernon Coaker MP Under 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”