Memorandum submitted by John Dockerty (PC 35)

 

Dear members of the scrutiny committee.

I am writing to voice my opposition to the governments proposals in the policing and crime bill as they relate to further criminalising of sex work.

I am an agent for some twenty male and female escort.

I have been in business for ten years. I am already as the law now stands in danger of being prosecuted for controlling for gain even though I am employed by the self employed escorts who pay me to represent them. I have been employed to do this role by some of the ladies I represent for several years.

I am not a criminal but I am criminalised by bad laws that prevents me from running my business as I would like and from being able to offer the women and men I represent many of the facilities that I would like to.

Escorts employ people like me for particular reasons. We provide anonymity and security and a working structure and social structures where escorts can mix socially and have support from their peers. Just like most other tax paying UK subjects escorts want to be able to work together and have choices in their working arrangements.

Many of the escorts I represent work together in twos and threes in their own flats. They do this for security and to save on costs. The proposal section 20 that threatens to close and lock brothels on suspicion is very worrying. Many work from their own homes and have families to support. Being forced onto the streets or locked out of their homes and work places is worrying many. It is unjust and unfair and is putting them in danger. It will do nothing to stop trafficking or stop people from working but it will endanger them.

Clause 12 that proposes to criminalise clients is taking away their ability to earn. Many clients see the escorts on a regular basis and the escorts see many as friends. Again criminalising clients will only force the industry to operate underground and put the escorts and businesses like mine at the mercy of criminals. Already some criminals feel they can rob us and discriminate against us because they know that we cannot expect to be protected by the law when the law criminalise us. This is simply not right. it is unjust and against our human rights. W pay tax. We are workers so why do you not recognise our choices.

Proposing to send street girls to gaol is also wrong and further alienates some of the most vulnerable women and men and labels them as criminals with no way of moving on from there present situation.

Please do not further criminalise an already criminalised and stigmatised sector of your community. Give us the protection of the law and recognise our choice to work in our industry and protect us. Do not criminalise us further and please please look to decriminalise the laws that make our situation dangerous and encourages criminals to profit.

Please work with us to stop abuse and do not cause more abuse which these proposals do. They will harm thousands and endanger thousands. Shame on this government.

February 2009