Policing and Crime Bill - Prostitution

I’m a bit late with this, but better late than never… Back in November, we reported on the Policing and Crime Bill, which has clauses that provide for someone to be prosecuted for rape if he (or she?) has sex with a sex worker who is ‘controlled for gain’ – such as a trafficked person. The Bill has since been making its way through the various stages of the legislative process. I think the most recent hearing was on January 19th 2009. Trafficking people is an evil that needs to be eradicated. But it’s not really clear that this Bill will help. The English Collective of Prostitutes is not in favour and says that the Bill will make sex work even more hazardous and drive prostitution further underground. They have produced a Briefing, which details the problems they have identified with the Bill, which are many and various. The Briefing also includes statements from some sex workers, whose voices don’t tend to get heard much in discussions concerning their trade. The English Collective of Prostitutes also emphasises the need for feminists (amongst others) to pay attention to what sex workers have to say about the issues that concern them, and to theorise with that in mind.