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

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

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

3. “Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution” Hannah Jo Besley& Superintendent Alan CatonIpswich

4. The Ipswich Experience Hannah Jo Besley Superintendent Alan Caton

5. Pre November 2006 • Joint agency strategy as a key implementation group for the Ipswich Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) • Was it working?

6. OPERATION SUMAC Tania Nichol Gemma Adams Anneli Alderton Paula Clennell Annette Nicholls

7. Map of area

10. 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.

11. Response to Sumac contd. • Specific Terms of Reference To remove street prostitution from Ipswich

12. Key Aims • Identifying the problem • Developing Routes out • Tackling demand • Prevention • Community intelligence

13. Implementation • Specific co-ordination • Resources • Technology • Building of relationships

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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

19. Evaluation • UEA – EVISTA project. • Through media and local pressures such as residents and councillors.

20. Next steps • Continual monitoring of the strategy and being flexible to changes in approach / legislation. • Off street prostitution

21. Contacts • Alan Caton; 01473 383102 alan.caton@suffolk.pnn.police.uk • Hannah Jo Besley; 01473 432703 hannah-jo.besley@ipswich.gov.uk

22. “Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution” Ann HamiltonLead Officer, Prostitution, Glasgow City Council

23. Comprehensive view • Violence against women • Link with other forms of exploitation • Indoor prostitution • Pornography/sex shops • Table dancing • Trafficking • National and international context

24. 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

25. What 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

26. 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

27. 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!

28. 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

30. Different 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

32. “Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution” Professor Roger MatthewsDirector of Crime Reduction and Community Safety Unit, London Southbank University

33. PROSTITUTION AND POLICY? Professor Roger Matthews London South Bank University

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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.

41. Recorded Prostitution Related Offences 2003/4 - 2006/7 Offence 2003/4 2004/5 2005/6 2006/7 • Abuse of children through prostitution and pornography - 99 124 101 • Trafficking for sexual exploitation - 21 33 43 • Exploitation of prostitution 186 117 153 190 • Sexual grooming - 186 237 322

42. “Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution” Fiona Mactaggart MPLabour MP, Slough

43. “Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution” Question Time

44. “Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution” Vernon Coaker MPUnder Secretary of State for Crime Reduction, Home Office

45. “Developing New Approaches to Managing Prostitution” Question Time

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