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Sexual Health & Sex Work The SAFE Project Nikki Stewart Aims • The law • Current environment • Research BTG • Policing Sex work • NUM • SAFE – Partner working • Patient JourneysThe main legislation relating to prostitution is contained in the following Acts: • Sexual Offences Act 2003 • Policing and Crime Act 2009 • Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (in relation to placing of advertisements relating to prostitution) • Modern Slavery Act 2015 (in relation to trafficking for sexual exploitation) • Serious Crime Act 2015 (in relation to sexual exploitation of children). The Law • It is not illegal to sell sex In Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland), prostitution itself (the exchange of sexual services for money) is legal, but a number of related activities, including soliciting in a public place, kerb crawling, owning or managing a brothel, pimping and pandering, are crimes. (focus in the UK is on reducing sex work rather than keeping sex workers safe) The law It is illegal to: • Operate a brothel. A brothel is defined as a place where more than one women sells sex. • Live off the earnings of a prostitute or to control and direct prostitutes. • Solicit to sell or buy sex in public places. • Cause or incite prostitution for gain • to buy sex from a trafficked person.• In theory sex workers have similar legal rights as other citizens but they cannot claim labour rights because managing a sex business or profiting from sex work is illegal. • Local police and other authorities are authorised to make policy about how law and local regulations are applied in their area.• The number of sex workers in the UK is estimated to be around 72,800 with about 32,000 working in London. • In 2014–15, there were 456 prosecutions of sex workers for loitering and soliciting. • An estimated 183 sex workers have been murdered in the UK since 1990 • Sex workers have on average 25 clients per week • The hidden nature of sex work makes abuse and exploitation more prevelant • Almost ½ of sex workers in the UK are worried about saftey from violent clients and also the police (House of commons Home affairs Committee (2016-2017) Changes in sex working BTG (2018) • 10% Street sex working • 30-35% Brothels & Saunas • 55-60% private Independent lone workers /flats Students Estimation of Sex workers in Birmingham &Solihull Lowe, Pilcher, Pattison &Whittaker 2017 • Estimate of online sex workers actively advertising for clients – fluid population Female 590 Male 190 Trans 40 Total 820 Beyond the Gaze • 80% of SW’s experience some kind of violence • 50% of SW’s regularly fear their safety On line sex workers 65% persistent/unwanted contact 56% threatening harassing contact 53% non payment/underpayment 49% verbal abuse (not always taken seriously – goes with the job!!) Barriers to reporting to the police • Fear of public identification • Lack of trust • Perception – occupational hazard • Pressures of daily life – survival • Being judged • Misunderstandings of sex work • Anxieties associated with court process • Closing of premises• 2015 Guidance on policing sex work – focus on the need to minimize threat, harm and risk and to maximize safeguarding opportunities to those involved in prostitution and the principle of partnership working. • 2016 HASC report - saying that soliciting by sex workers, and sex workers sharing premises, should be decriminalised. • 2018 Beyond the Gaze • 2018 APPG Behind Closed Doors • International: SESTA (The Stop Enabling Sex TraffickersAct) FOSTA (the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act) National police working Group Priorities • Building understanding • Working towards operational consistency • Reducing vulnerability and Improving Safety • Targeting those who exploit • Influencing the policy environment Tackling inconsistencies • Recognise inconsistent approach between forces • Each force has a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) • Working to 2015 guidance • Annual conference • Soho Rd - examples NUM National Ugly Mug Scheme https://uknswp.org/um/ NUM –believe in and advocate for the human rights of sex-workers • The right to self determination • The right to live free from violence • The right to live free from intimidation, coercion or exploitation • The right to work as safe as possible • The right to police protection ADVOCACY Reporting SW’s, Engagement with Services, Police SW’s Police Signposting to local Alerting services Services Sharing intelligence Supporting through with Police CJS NUM • Number check • Email check • Virtual phone numbers – safety numbers (draw back premium numbers) • Signposting to specialist services • Adult work • SNAP (support network for adult professionals) • Saafe.info (Support and advice for escorts) • Revenge Porn• Interventionstoimprovehealthandthe determinantsofhealthamongsexworkersin high- incomecountries:asystematicreview • Published:November02, 2022DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468- 2667(22)00252-3 Summary of finding • Co-designed and co-delivered interventions that are either multicomponentor focus on education and empowerment are likely to be effective.Policy makers and health-care providers should improve access to services for all genders of sex workers and those new to an area. Future research should develop interventions for a greater diversity of sex worker populations and for wider health and social needs • So essentially – health interventions should be co- designed with sex workers. SAFE Space • Whittall St Clinic • Any umbrella clinics • Mobile clinic • Place of work i.e. Parlors and clubs Why have a specialist project? • Sex workers are a hard to reach group – often a hidden population • Frequently living dual lives • Barriers to accessing mainstream services: such as prejudice, stigma, fear of judgemental attitudes and lifestyles, criminalisation.• Sustains ongoing relationships – trust • Delivery of a wide range of frontline harm reduction, information, health services and initiatives • Facilitate an improvement in health and reduce the risks associated with sex work MISSION ST A TEMENT • The Safe project seeks to promote the health and well being of those who have worked, are working or at risk reduce the harm associated with sex work and empower to sex workers to make positive choices. Who SAFE sees • Any sex worker Male, female, trans, non binary • Indoor workers- sex on venues, • Independent workers- online platforms • Film – adult performers SAFE PROVIDES • A sexual health and contraception service: STI testing, Contraception including LARC’s and cervical screening and sexual health advice, vaccinations Hep A &B, HPV, monkey pox – no appointment needed • PrEP & PEPSE • Cert B’s emailed • Information and advice on How to stay Safe, trafficking ,problems working • Free condoms, contraception and lube • Late night clinics • Referral and signposting to specialist partner agencies • Ugly Mugs – support reporting, joining and information, number check Positive Results • Quick turn around of results • PN and treatment • Provider referrals Working with Partner agencies • Sexual abuse and Domestic abuse - RSVP – Fi Kerr • FI – weekly space at local library • IDVA – Birmingham & Solihull WomensAid • Modern day slavery lead – net outreach • Alcohol and drug use – CGL Fast track pathway • Housing welfare and the law – SIFA , Trident Reach • Future Education and training – Thrive into work – Building Health programme – QE learning Hub • Mental Health Teams • Police – Community notices (CPN) Safety, empowerment &and& support The Red Project is a confidential, non-judgmental & trans inclusive service for people involved in any aspect of sex work in Birmingham and Solihull. The Sex Workers Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (SWISVA) can provide compassionate support, offering: • Help sex workers access other specialist service providers, as well as advocating whilst they use these services such as physical and mental health care provisions, domestic abuse agencies, housing, substance misuse and any other support needs that arise • Supporting sex workers to find alternative employment if they choose to leave • Safety planning for all types of sex work- safety tips on our website theredproject.co.uk • Specialist counselling for survivors of sexual violence • Peer led workshops, sharing safety tips and skills between sex workers, such as having brunch, nail art, adult colouring, creative sessions • Community based outreach and drop-ins in areas where sex workers can access- Ladywood, Handsworth, looking to expand to other areas • Can assist with reporting incidents, whether that be to the police, anonymously or National Ugly Mugs • Supporting sex workers emotionally and practically through the criminal justice system and legal process (Police and court), such as ensuring they receive entitled special measures in court (to give evidence from behind a screen or via a video link). • Contact the SWISVA, Fi Kerr, at kerr@rsvporg.co.uk / 07432 578105 Twitter @TheRedProjectWM Patient P female 24yrs • Referral from general clinic • Very closed student at local university – • Gradual disclosures • Referred to Fi • Contarception, STI, testing PrEP • Supportive and non judgemental • Returning to London • Present day – support networks Patient Q 33yr • MSM – cultural impacts and pulls • High risk sex Grindr • PrEP on and off –over last 18 months PEPSE x2. last 12 months CTx1 • Recreational cocaine and canabis • Mental health issues, Housing • Gradual disclosures- works as trans – identity issues in current housing • “No one listens to me or knows the full picture” • Liasing with mental health services - consent • CBT Patient J 27yrs MSM • Performer – married RMP -Travels overseas • Has been filming from an early age 16yrs • On PrEP daily dosage – vaccinated HPV, monkey pox and Hep B & Hep A • Attends 4 weekly for cert • Since June has had GCx2 in different sites and CTx2 different sites • No chems or drugs • Struggles sometimes negotiating boundaries help reporting individuals and production companies Transient group • Banners on adult platforms • During Commonwealth games – Brazilian ladies • Showed up in clinic • Testing –issuesContact details referrals Umbrellahealth.co.uk/our-servives/safe SHSSAFE@uhb.nhs.uk 0121 -3715000 07917172409 senior sister 07973600849 Generic SAFE phone
