Archived decisions

This briefing note provides background information on the subject of prostitution, setting it in the context of recent national policy, and outlining various campaigns, groups and enforcement that tackle different dimensions of the subject.

National policy

· `A Co-ordinated Prostitution Strategy' Home Office 2006, sets out the government's proposals for a co-ordinated prostitution strategy.

The strategy focuses on disrupting sex markets by preventing individuals, and particularly children and young people, from being drawn into prostitution; by providing appropriate protection and routes out for those already involved; by protecting communities from the nuisance associated with prostitution; and by ensuring that those who control, coerce or abuse those in prostitution are brought to justice.

The key objectives of the strategy are to:

- challenge the view that street prostitution is inevitable and here to stay

- achieve an overall reduction in street prostitution

- improve the safety and quality of life of communities affected by prostitution, including those directly involved in street sex markets

- reduce all forms of commercial sexual exploitation

Addressing prostitution requires strong partnerships, involving a wide range of enforcement and support agencies.

· `Tackling the Demand for Prostitution: a review', published by the Home Office in November 2008, adds to the co-ordinated strategy above by recommending measures to strengthen the reduction in the demand for prostitution, particularly in respect of sex workers that have been trafficked or who are exploited.

This includes a proposal for a new offence to criminalise those found to be paying for sex with a person who is controlled against their wishes for someone else's gain e.g. a pimp or a trafficker.

Other actions proposed are designed to tighten up offences that prohibit the purchase of sex on the street or in a public place, e.g.. closure powers to enable the closure of premises used for trafficking or child sexual exploitation, and a national anti-kerb crawling campaign.

Campaigns, groups and enforcement

· Pentameter 2 is a multi agency, co-ordinated campaign, launched in 2007, to tackle those being trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

The campaign is UK wide, and is linked to a G6 programme of activity led by the UK and Poland.

· The United Kingdom Network of Sex Work Projects (UKNSWP) is a group of organisations that are sex worker-led, health authority managed, children's charities, other voluntary and faith based organisations. Through their direct contact with thousands of sex workers across the UK, they represent a huge body of expertise in the field of sex work.

UKNSWP raises policy issues in the public arena, locally and nationally. It aims to support sex workers and projects that work with them and, through this, improve public policy in this difficult area.

· The Hampshire Federation of Women's Institutes has launched a campaign to highlight the plight of Hampshire's prostitutes. Through the campaign they are seeking to amend current legislation that criminalises men who visit prostitutes. They are looking to see how brothels could be made safer.

The campaign followed a Hampshire Federation of Women's Institutes vote in favour of legalising brothels. The Hampshire Federation vote does not apply to the National Federation of Women's Institutes, although the national federation is a member of the national End Violence Against Women coalition, and lead a campaign on this in 2008.

· The Hampshire Constabulary has a Vice Investigating Team (VIT) which includes a remit to prostitution. Where a local area believes they have a significant problem with prostitution, they may request the assistance of the VIT. As the VIT has limited resources, priority is given to:

a) juvenile prostitution

b) facilitation of persons for prostitution

c) complaints about prostitution which cause considerable anti-social behaviour

With regard to c), approximately 40% of VIT time is dedicated to Southampton.

The VIT has been involved in more than 100 operations since 200 in relation to prostitution.

· Dimensions of prostitution:

- sexual health, HIV/AIDS and other blood born viruses

- drugs and drug use

- violent attacks

- male and transgender sex workers

- clients of sex workers

- migrant sex workers

- international sex work

- outreach work

- children and young adults

- police interventions

- legislation

- policy

- `on street' and `off street' prostitution

Philippa Smart. Scrutiny Officer. January 2009.