I received the following email and would like to share it with you, as it has some very important information regarding our industry and new proposed laws that may come into effect.  You may be motivated enough to do as the sender asks, and write to the Lords and your local politicians.

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 There has been much said by Labour and the media about trafficking and sex work. Figures of 4,000 plus have been mentined as the likely number in the UK who are trafficked. Analysis of the police Pentameter raids shows this high number is an exaggeration. Take a look at the Guardian articles, a paper that has been keen to criminalize sex work and clients.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/20/government-trafficking-enquiry-fails
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/20/trafficking-numbers-women-exaggerated
 
You may also want to read the ECP statement after this news came out out yesterday. Its in this blog
 
http://www.elrondmiddleengland.co.uk/2009/10/trafficking-for-sexual-services-is.html
 
Finally its still time to make that last minute bid to email someone in the Lords who will be debating prostitution in the next few days. Here is a list of email addresses and sample letter. You may wish to add the bit about the Guardian newspaper article as well. There is a word document, which I cannot attach to this email. It will be on my blog.

 http://www.elrondmiddleengland.co.uk/2009/10/briefing-on-policing-and-crime-bill.html
 
 
English Collective of Prostitutes
 
PO Box 287 London NW6 5QU Tel: 020 7482 2496 Fax: 020 7209 4761
 
ecp@allwomencount.net, www.prostitutescollective.net
 
  
Dear Friends,
  
The Policing and Crime is due to be debated in Committee in the House of Lords tomorrow although the clauses on prostitution may not come up for two weeks. We?ll keep you informed as we find out details.  
 
Many of you have written before, expressing your opposition. Politicians claim to be targeting ?demand? i.e. clients. They hide that it is mainly women, prostitute women, who will bear the brunt of the new measures, and that by increasing criminalisation they undermine safety. None of us want to see another Ipswich. Now is the time to write again. 
  
We enclose below:
 
1. A statement for organisations to sign. Please ask any groups or organisations you are part of or know to add their name to the prestigious list of signatures. You may need to pursue people vigorously as time is short. Please send back signatures to us (ecp@allwomencount.net) as soon as you get them.
 
2. A model letter for individuals where you can make your particular case against these measures. Many people have expressed outrage that it is women in government who call themselves feminists who are attacking other women in this way. Please copy any letter you write to us at ecp@allwomencount.net.
 
 
The attached briefing gives more detail. 
 
 
 
Safety YES, victimisation NO.
 
 
 
Many thanks,
 
 
 
Cari Mitchell
 
 
 
1. STATEMENT FOR ORGANISATIONS TO SIGN ? ADD YOUR ORGANISATION BELOW
 
Impact of the Policing and Crime Bill
 on the health and safety of sex workers
 
 
 
As individuals and organisations concerned with health and safety, we believe that legislation on prostitution should be judged first of all by whether it helps sex workers, especially women and their families. We don?t think the Policing and Crime Bill now before parliament does that.
 
 
 
The harsher definition of persistent soliciting (twice over a period of three month), the forced ?rehabilitation? of those arrested, and the targeting of brothels for raids and closure, will drive prostitution further underground, increasing the vulnerability of those involved. Fear of arrest deters women from reporting violence or to access health or other services. Mothers, the majority of sex workers, worry about protecting their children from the stigma attached to criminalisation, and from the separation that may result from a prison sentence. A criminal record also prevents those who may want to leave prostitution from getting other jobs, even when they are qualified for them.
 
 
 
It is well established that working from premises is much safer than working on the street, as women can work collectively and support each other. Whatever our views on prostitution, we believe that the policing of rape and other violence should be prioritised over the policing of consenting sex.
 
 
 
The government agrees that most women involved in prostitution do so because of economic need, debt, homelessness, domestic violence ? Why then during a profound economic recession bring in legislation that will further criminalise women?
 
 
 
In May 2009 Royal College of Nursing Congress voted 93% in favour for up to four sex workers to be allowed to work together legally. Delegates voted through the measure believing that decriminalisation will remove the stigma of prostitution, enabling sex workers to access the health services that they need.
 
 
 
New Zealand successfully introduced decriminalisation six years ago on the basis that the health and safety of sex workers was paramount, and that to achieve it sex workers and their organisations had to be involved in the legislative process.
 
 
We urge the government to drop the new measures and look at New Zealand as the best way forward.

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