SAFETY FIRST WALES PROPOSALS FOR CHANGE

• Support demands nationally for the decriminalisation of sex work. Evidence from New Zealand where decriminalisation was introduced in 2003 shows: no rise in prostitution; women more able to report violence without fear of arrest; attacks cleared up more quickly; sex workers more able to leave prostitution as convictions are cleared from their records; drug users treated as patients not criminals.
• Oppose the criminalisation of sex workers’ clients (so called ‘Nordic model’) as this undermines sex workers’ safety.
• Implement an amnesty from arrest to protect sex workers who report witnessing or experiencing violence. A sex worker-led campaign won such an amnesty in California. In cities across the US (Baltimore, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Philadelphia, San Francisco) District Attorneys are refusing to prosecute sex workers in recognition of the harm caused by criminalisation.
• Amend National Police Chiefs’ Council guidelines to specify that arrests and raids should only occur where police can show reasonable grounds to suspect that sex workers are being subject to force and coercion. This would help ensure that sex workers aren’t criminalised “simply for being sex workers” or engaging in practices that increase their own safety.
• Implement a 'firewall' to separate police investigations into violence and labour inspections from Immigration Enforcement, to ensure migrant sex workers can report violence regardless of their immigration status.
• Instruct the police, prosecuting authorities and courts to prioritise safety by vigorously investigating and prosecuting rape, coercion, stalking and other violence.
• Oppose clauses in the Online Safety Bill which put a responsibility onto tech companies to censor sex workers’ adverts as any crackdown on online advertising has been shown to increase the risks for sex workers and make it harder for people to work independently.
• Target resources at sex workers to enable them to leave prostitution if they choose. Specifically, priority for social housing, debt relief, health services, improved domestic violence services and instructing benefit decision makers to not impose sanctions.
• Extend the provision of a “care income” to mothers - similar to the payments of £1600 a month given to young people leaving care - in recognition of the fact that most sex workers are working to support families. Hawaii passed a law in January to pay a basic income of $2000 a month to sex workers aiming to exit prostitution.
• Take action to stop sex working mothers losing custody of their children - no child should be is taken from their mother/primary carer because the family is poor, homeless or unable to afford food, clothing or childcare.
• Scrap the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition which disproportionately affects women and leaves them destitute and at risk of exploitation and violence.

As an immediate first step, the 2016 parliamentary Home Affairs Committee recommendation could be implemented to decriminalise sex workers on the street and working together in premises and expunge criminal records.