1. Will Zero Tolerance on Street Prostitution Really Work?
Dr Teela Sanders
School of Sociology & Social Policy
University of Leeds
&
Chair, Genesis outreach project

2. What the Strategy proposes for street prostitution
Challenge that SP is inevitable
Overall reduction
Reduce commercial exploitation
Increase ‘routes out’
Tackling demand - deterring clients
Remove opportunity for SP to take place
Treat crimes seriously when victim is sex worker

3. Impact of the Strategy on:
Sex Workers:
- criminal justice system
- violence and safety
- health
- engagement in services
Men who buy sex:
- individuals
- overall demand
- market

4. Impact on sex workers: criminal justice system
‘Anti social behaviour’ & ‘offending behaviour’
Police presence / crackdowns / case conferences
Enforcement against soliciting
ASBOs + Intervention Order
Compulsory rehabilitation
Engage with what? Under resourced/ CJIP led /without outreach specialists

5. Impact on sex workers: violence & safety
Police presence = more risks
Strangers / change in working practices
Isolation / displacement / other crimes
Disengage from outreach services
‘less likely to arrest’ agreements = less risks & nuisance
Ignored sensible Cologne & Utrecht models where no murders in zones
In UK, 90+ murders in last 15 years.

6. Health & Street Sex Work
Facts (Ward & Day, 2004):
SW have a reduced prevalence of STI’s compared to general population
HIV infection rate 0-3.5%
High condom rate
Paying the Price:
Ignored health research
Promoted that sex workers practices unsafe sex
Men who buy sex spread disease

7. Impact on sex workers: health
Police presence & fear of CJS pressures women to have unsafe sex
Gives clients more power to insist on unsafe practices
Disengage with services
Outstanding provisions from Outreach Vans / Projects - primary care
Strategy has no understanding of risk / patient access / role & success of outreach / negative health outcomes

8. Enforcement of ‘kerbcrawling’ laws
Swedish model of criminalising men
Research evidence on nature of clients mainly complying is ignored
Accepts interventions such as ‘kerbcrawler rehabilitation’ programmes which have been criticised and failed
Contradictory as NOT illegal to buy sex

9. Impact on Individual Men
No evaluation of arrest policy
Where do the men go?
What is the impact of crackdowns?
Naming & Shaming - these men have families
Demonise clients as evil monsters
Constructed as abusers

10. Impact on Market / Demand
Crime intervention that removes individuals doesn’t work
Displacement - other towns/markets
Displacement - acquisitive crimes
Drives markets out of sight
Fewer clients = more aggressive market = more chance of nuisance

11. Confusion All Round
Where does the law stand post-Strategy?
Prostitution not outlawed
What situations / conditions is it legal?
Will men who visit indoor markets be at risk?
Sex workers, clients and outreach projects confused….no doubt police too!
No suggestions that confusion will be put right

12. Will the Strategy tackle real exploitation & vulnerability?
Safe houses / Specialist housing
Fast track drug treatment
Holistic long term support
Safe environment to sell sex free from danger
Support outside the criminal justice system
Increased funding specifically for outreach projects - should not rely on charity funding

13. What the Strategy offers…...
Emphasis on ‘routes out’
Guidance on models of support & exit routes
No timetable for proposed changes
No Ministers responsible for taking changes forward
NO MONEY

14. No resources: a blessing in disguise?
No additional resources for projects or policing
Non commitment = no change = no management solution
Back to where we started with no ‘common prostitute’ in law!