Saturday, January 10, 2009
The numbers on prostitution and sex in the UK don't add up
Tim Harford has an interesting analysis, on the BBC radio four programme, on Mathematics, the numbers that have been released on prostitution in the UK are not clear.
The radio programme is only available for a few more days, so listen to it while it is on air.
Some of the numbers are
Some of the numbers are
- 80% of Prostitutes, escorts are controlled. This is a figure Fiona Mctaggart has come up with.
- Julia O 'Connell Davidson challenges this view as she says that 80% of the sexworkers who were described by receptionists in flats, brothels or agencies were described as foreign.Does this mean that they are controlled?
- In 2006, 515 raids were carried out on brothels over 4 months in Operation Pentameter. There were 232 arrests and 84 women were rescued.
- There were 822 raids in Operation Pentameter two, and 167 women were identified. The raids suggest that less than 80% of the women were trafficked.
- There are supposed to be 80,000 prostitutes/escorts working in the UK. These numbers are based on research that was done ten years ago.
- There are supposed to be 25,000 sex slaves in the UK.
- 70% of London's off street prostitutes/escorts are foreign nationals.
Do politicians and academics choose their data to support their stance?
Labels: bbc radio 4, Escorts, London, Prostitutes, Trafficking, uk
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the clampdown on Prostitution in the UK
Niki Adams from the English collective of Prostitutes, and Jacqui Smith discuss this issue on the Radio 4 today programme.
Some important points that I am holding onto from that interview are :
Some important points that I am holding onto from that interview are :
- Control for somebody else's gain is a wide term, and could include a maid, or a prostitute's boyfriend.
- The controlling legislation does not require force or coercion, but simply money changing hands.
- The onus is on the client to ascertain whether a prostitute is being controlled by a pimp, trafficker, or drug dealer, ignorance is no defence.
- So part of the client's role is to enforce the law.
I wonder how clients will determine what a prostitute's circumstances are. There are cases where a prostitute says she is not trafficked, but she is, and the client will be prosecuted
Well, I don't have a pimp, I don't do drugs, and I do not have a boyfriend. I have worked as an independent since I started escorting, and will do so until I retire.
Labels: bbc radio 4, Escorts, Prostitution laws, uk
