Prostitution and The Olympics Summit Report

Prostitution and the Olympics Summit
29th September 2009 Toynbee Hall, London
Delegate List
Sade Adenekan Mark Allan Julie Amory Jo Andrews Jo Ansell Suzie Artus Julia Bailey Andy Bamber Nigel Barton Jon Birch Ian Bonny Frances Brodrick Jan Buss Jacqueline Casson Philippa Chipping Jane Connor Gilly Cottew Michael Duthie Anna Edman Rebecca Einhorn Rachel Fairbairn Michelle Farley Catherine Ford Stewart Goshawk Wendy Hachmoller Elizabeth Harrison Margaret Hunter Angela Lambillion Davina Lilley Chris Lovitt Kit Malthouse Darryl Marsh Michelle May Paula McGranaghan Bharat Mehta Miriam Merkova Alastair Noble Yeliz Osman Georgina Perry Alice Peycke Amy Potter Paddy Rawlinson Genny Renard Paul Rickett Michelle Robson Ben Rowland Rif Sharif Kathryn Smale Lindsay Sprott Tristan Styles Rachael Takens-Milne Hong Tan Roger Taylor Gemma Townsend Robin Tuddenham Neil Walker Martin Whiterod Sue Williams Mark Yexley
NHS Waltham Forest Toynbee Hall Olympic Delivery Authority Ariadne Network Providence Row Charity Door of Hope City and Hackney PCT London Borough of Tower Hamlets Turning Point Clubs & Vice Unit (CO14), Metropolitan Police Host Boroughs Unit Eaves Housing for Women NIA Project London Borough of Brent LBTH London Borough of Newham London Borough of Tower Hamlets Clubs & Vice Unit (CO14), Metropolitan Police Equality and Human Rights Commission NSPCC London Borough of Hackney Sexual Health on Call Host Boroughs Unit The City Bridge Trust NHS Tower Hamlets The Haven South London NHS London Borough of Waltham Forest City of London NHS TH Greater London Authority Hackney Borough Police London Development Agency Compass, ISIS City Parochial Foundation Toynbee Hall, Safe Exit Home Ofce Greater London Authority Open Doors Toynbee Hall NHS Tower Hamlets London School of Economics London Borough of Brent Metropolitan Police Family Justice Centre Toynbee Hall Women & Girls Network Tower Hamlets Council Metropolitan Police Metropolitan Police City Parochial Foundation NHS London Host Boroughs Unit Greater London Authority London Borough of Waltham Forest London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games London Borough of Hackney London Metropolitan Police Metropolitan Police
Foreword
Toynbee Hall works with the poorest UK communities to improve conditions through practical innovative programmes. We make a difference by developing local programmes which have the power to inuence positive social change at a national level. Safe Exit is a Toynbee Hall project and aims to reduce the scale of street-based prostitution in London through working in partnerships to develop multi-agency solutions. Safe Exit aims to develop better services for women invovled in prostitution and to reduce the impact of prostitution on local communities. This is a report of the proceedings of a three hour meeting of over 50 representatives from statutory and voluntary agencies working on issues relating to prostitution from across the ve boroughs hosting the Olympic Games. The purpose of the meeting was to share information and opinion and to provoke thinking about what actions need to be taken. Participants came from very different starting points with widely varying perspectives; the meeting was highly participative. The conclusions and recommendations from this short meeting are reported verbatim. They do not always do justice to the discussion and debate that took place (and indeed may have more meaning to those present than to other readers). Similarly, undue importance should not be attached to the votes for different recommendations given the limited time and multiple perspectives in drafting and deciding on these.
As can be seen from the Concluding Remarks from participants included at the end of the report, the session achieved its aims. It was an important rst step in bringing stakeholders together to ensure that women involved in prostitution across the ve host boroughs are fairly treated in the run up to, during and after the Olympics. Connections were made that will be pursued, further meetings and commitments made and we hope this report will be read as a contribution in that context. As with all our work, success is down to partnerships. We would like to thank City Parochial Foundation for funding this event. Thanks go to Open Doors and Eaves Housing for helping with the planning. We are very grateful to the following individuals for hosting the Knowledge Cafe questions: Frances Brodrick, Eaves; Jane Connor, London Borough of Newham; Elizabeth Harrison, The Haven (Whitechapel); Diane Martin, Trust; Miriam Merkova, Safe Exit; Georgina Perry, Open Doors and Robin Tuddenham, London Borough of Waltham Forest. Thank you to all the delegates who attended and contributed ideas, views and knowledge, and to the staff and volunteers who made the event run smoothly. And nally, thanks go to Annette Zera for facilitating such a succcessful afternoon.
AlICE PEYCKE
Wellbeing Programme Manager Toynbee Hall
Opening Remarks
BEN ROWLAND
Chair of Trustees, Toynbee Hall Welcome to this event. Thank you to City Parochial Foundation for nancial and other support. For many years Toynbee Hall has been addressing causes of poverty through work with families, the elderly and those involved in prostitution. Women in prostitution are more likely to be murdered, to suffer physically, with poor welfare having a signicant impact on them and their families, and on local communities. A key part of Safe Exit is partnership working, getting people around a table to talk. Partnerships will be vital leading to the Olympics and in responding to the increase in prostitution that will occur. Today is part of that to put ideas into a melting pot, to then take action. What we talk about today will turn into real things and action for the next three years and beyond.
KIT MALTHOUSE
Deputy Mayor of London, Policing and Conservation London Assembly Member One of the proudest moments in my political career was persuading the government to make the placing of prostitute cards illegal, after a three year campaign. There were many barriers and obstacles but in 2001 the change occurred with immediate affects. Particularly in Westminster where the cards were rst introduced. Soon after I was walking in Soho, a guy came out of a house and threatened me because I had made serious dents to his earning. I swore if I was in a similar position to be able to do something about prostitution, I would make a difference. Boris Johnson has given me the tools to do something about this with a focus on the date of the Olympics. A frustration for many years has been the unwillingness to plan for things we know are going to happen. We knew Eastern European countries were joining the EU but we did little to do anything about housing. Only recently we had a conference for homeless people in central London. We know there is going to be an increase into people trafcked not just within the sex industry but also for slave labour. We can do something to lessen the impact of the Olympics on this. Much of the effort in prostitution is very distant from each other, with patchy responses from local government and third sector. To really do something about this we need to have one concerted approach. One thing we do know about criminal networks is that they are making their plans now. There are both small and big organised businesses. These are businesses, industrial combines- they are already planning and we need to also. We need to draw all our tools together. Unless we all stand shoulder to shoulder they will nd the cracks in our armoury. Today is hopefully the rst of many opportunities. I do have the tools, I can take the outcomes from this meeting. An example is my position on the Olympic Security Board. I have good connections throughout local government so hopefully we can help and assist and do what we should do which is to lead the ght During Athens the amount of trafcking doubled. Unfortunately after the games nished it did not go down. That is the kind of legacy we do not want or need and we need to work hard now so we can do something about it.
Opening Remarks
ROGER TAYLOR
Director of Legacy, Host Borough Unit Most of what I will say is contextual, and at the end something practical. If we think about this ve borough area of London from the North to the South then it wont be a surprise that this area has some distinct characteristics: Over the next 30 years we expect the physical fabric of this area will be transformed by 30 to 50 billion worth of private and public spending: a huge opportunity not to be missed . This is especially important because the 1.25 million people in this area in London make up the most deprived parts of England. Whether we are talking about health, crime, low education attainment- they are all more prevalent here than anywhere else in England. As a response to the challenges of growth and deprivation the ve boroughs have become a strong sub regional partnership, with a statutory joint committee, which occurred last month. Lastly the Olympics - as the Olympic promise was to bring benets to this area we see this as an opportunity to focus a sharp spotlight. Most important of all of these is to turn the legacy into a reality where we say it is no longer acceptable for this part of London to lag behind the rest of London. Boris welcomed a twenty year programme in which the ve boroughs would work with their partners, including the GLA to progress this. This is where we have started from and we are trying to think about how to weave together the physical development with bringing benets to the people who live here - not another Canary Wharf. As Canary Wharf doubles in size, Woolwich and Greenwich goes ahead, the Olympic park goes ahead, there are huge challenges to the host boroughs and their partners, the mayor and central government, to do something about it. This should not be fashionable regeneration. Establishing the part 1 of the strategic regeneration framework for the ve borough area with targets is a statement to move towards convergence in terms of social-economic conditions. This will reach into every aspect of social-economic life in these boroughs. This will soon come out in a readable form. One area we are working on is crime. Another is focused on health. We have the opportunity today to talk about issues within the context of our work. Further work we carry out is the planning for Olympics- regulations etc. It occurs to me we have established through the London City Operation a programme of how London performs in context of the Olympics being here. I am not sure anyone has addressed issues around prostitution and human trafcking as part of that work. As we look at London and the Olympics we must look at this issue. I am therefore glad to be here. Ask yourself how is it that with all the money put into East London we have not made a signicant change- does the Olympics give us the opportunity to do things differently? It doesnt necessarily just need money; it needs people to start addressing what we can do together across organisations.
Knowledge Caf
Delegates discussed the following six questions. As mentioned in the Foreword to this report, the time available was short and the conclusions do not always do justice to discussion. Similarly, undue importance should not be attached to the numbers reect the votes attributed to each at the end of the meeting.
Knowledge Caf Conclusions
How do we prevent serious violent crime against women in prostitution and support victims?
Conclusions
Ensure women have condence to report, set up third party reporting/ assisted
reporting schemes
Votes
8
Prosecution of men buying sex Support for undocumented women Shorter process for criminal justice system- ongoing specialist support for the victim Greater understanding of why women and men get involved in prostitution and why they stay.
Do not make assumptions; organisations need to be non-judgemental 1 1
Strategy needs to include minors and specialist services for them Different strategies are needed for on and off street prostitution Better communication between all stakeholders with different opinions.
4
What should the health, police and local authorities priorities be in relation to street-based and off street prostitution?
Conclusions Votes
6 1 3
A lead agency for services for people selling sex- clear accountability and case coordination A local response which includes both needs of people involved with local residents/political concerns A shared 5 borough protocol for migrant womens ability to access services from health/police/local authorities. Different priorities for agencies, and different practices for on and off-street workers. Need to develop some shared priorities for what can be done e.g. alcohol Build consensus around supporting women out of prostitution- addressing housing needs; access to drug treatment and/or fast track prescribing; outreach services. Engaging with women selling sex to understand what services they will access- in forming joint commissioning e.g. across 5 boroughs.
7 18
How do we respond to the holistic needs of women in off-street prostitution (including British, migrant and trafcked women)?
Conclusions
Principle conclusion: No one size ts all Strategic framework that is not reactive: political framework Multi-agency liaison: Thrash out the values; develop understanding of that needs vary What can be done about prevention? The streets arent paved with gold! Are there access routes into statutory services (other than health) that can be piloted?
How do we respond to the holistic needs of women in street-based prostitution?

Conclusions
London wide co-ordinated strategy Cross borough agreements Ring fence funding (DAT/DIP) for treatment Not just a cosmetic approach Fund aftercare Properly resourced exit routes Longer view to eradicate violence against women in prostitution Housing- a range of supported housing Whats happening on estates? Housing that is not chaotic/drug free Experienced vice unit in affected boroughs, designated ofcers Olympics vice unit? Tackle the demand Women only services Prevention through schools 1 7
Votes
1 1 4
What do we know about the current situation around prostitution and will there be an increase?
Conclusions
1. We need to know more:
Votes
Further training and expertise regarding identifying victims of trafcking To inform strategies across 5 boroughs How it links with other forms of crime
2. We need to act now:
Increase has already happened and is bound to increase Preventative measures, putting measures in place in anticipation of increase in trafcking and prostitution Need to deal with transient women passing through services then moving on Increase specialised services and responses for women in prostitution Better communication between boroughs: case conferencing. Host boroughs unit could facilitate standardised case conferences and standardise what constitutes an ASBO, perhaps look at an Olympic area ASBO?
3. Access to Services
Need to address barriers to accessing services: ASBOs/ Undocumented/False documents

4. Prevention 1
Demand: ban advertising sex services (esp. internet monitoring), change societal attitudes, attitudes towards women and violence against women Country of origin
10 Prostitution and the Olympics Summit
How should we address supply and demand? What lessons can we learn?
Conclusions
Cross borough partnership- use the opportunity of Olympics for joined up services Controls around: adverts, internet, licences for massage parlours (trading standards) Visible policing and CCTV linked with re-education and educating young people (boys and girls) Support women- penalise gangs- international work Address demand- tackling kerb crawlers (need to hit them hard and make enforcement a priority. Publicise kerb crawlers to ensure it acts as a deterrent) Welcome pack for Olympic athletes and all those visiting including journalists, telling them not to buy sex (Swedish NGO created leaet for Swedish army going to do international peacekeeping, which greatly reduced STIs etc.) Olympic Strategy on Prostitution- link in with strategic regeneration framework- needs to include situation on prostitution, as there is nothing at the moment
Votes
7 1 2 1
11
Open Space
The agenda for the rest of the afternoon was created through the Open Space process. Delegates were invited to raise topics and lead groups on topics that mattered to them in relation to the question:
How do we ensure that women involved in prostitution across the ve host boroughs are fairly treated in the run up, and during the Olympics?
What follows are the recommendations that arose from these sessions. As mentioned in the Foreword to this report, the time available was short and the conclusions do not always do justice to discussion. Similarly, undue importance should not be attached to the numbers reect the votes attributed to each at the end of the meeting.
12
Open Space Recommendations
How will we make sure decisions result in action? What structures can we use? How do we engage senior organisational leaders?
Recommendations
Dene outcomes carefully, and identify the target people we are seeking to inuence. Ensure the focus is on the people who have inuence in the right areas, and look at what are the motivators of the people we are seeking to inuence Work with the crime and health theme groups under the Strategic Regeneration Framework, possibly with a sub-group specically on this issue Develop an evidence base on the potential impacts of prostitution and how this links to the key themes under the Strategic Regeneration Framework and local priorities Establish a high level Strategic Group, with involvement from Kit Malthouse and senior multi-agency stakeholders to oversee this agenda and make things happen, with and some funding attached Link into the Engaging People group connected with the Olympic Games Focus on resources for existing services Speak to Lord Coe to champion Politically and nancially autonomous 5 borough unit 1 2
Votes
2 1 3
11
How will the wide range of organizations work together to achieve common aims?
Recommendations
There is a need for a national strategy around this, to ensure all relevant organizations and senior stakeholders have to commit to dealing with this Take the issues to existing forums as a priority (Crime Reduction Partnership Groups)
Votes
5
What constitutes fair treatment? Isnt supporting women out of prostitution full stop the fairest?
Recommendations
Host 5 boroughs (holistic, multi-agency) in national strategy (tackling demand, supporting exiting) Would a 5 borough strategy, what ever the balance between enforcement/engagement/ empowerment, work on its own? Need to understand the national context. Who would drive a 5 borough strategy? Host borough unit/lead authority/LA? National strategy: tackling demand, supporting exiting. Can we all sign up to these objectives? Need to build consensus and understanding about exiting strategies, why ethical, pragmatic and achievable Identify evidence-base, rationale and impact of focus on prostitutionthe case for a strategy at 5 borough level 3
Votes
Measures to reduce demands for prostitution, and publicising measures to deter trafckers?
Recommendations Votes
Develop short term strategy (Olympics) and long term strategy (societal change) in tandem e.g. Ban adverts for sexual services now and work towards reversing normalisation of prostitution. Olympics are a useful lend to change attitudes and improve practice. Public awareness campaign to make buying sex socially unacceptable, make reporting easier and the norm (reporting phone line, like crime stoppers) Develop publicity campaign along lines of Buying sex is not a sport- but with positive spin, e.g. frame Olympics as an event free from violence and abuse/exploitation. Information and guidance on how to report suspicious behaviour. Develop contracts with contractors, services, hotels; taxi drivers etc. specifying involvement in sex industry is unacceptable. Penalise where possible e.g. licences. Education approach with public, athletes, press, support teams- all potential punters. Include info and awareness, and clear deterrent messages in Olympic packs. Focus on internet e.g. Punternet etc. that tell punters where to go for sex. Ban all advertising for sexual services and prosecute any adverts found. Look into having Champions to speak out on different issues and raise awareness International campaigns to deter punters and trafckers Increase monitoring of lap dancing clubs Set up reciprocal arrangements with other countries regarding sex tourism. Enforcement spotlight on demand and kerb crawling: and publicise penalties, individual nes, name and shame (possible expulsion from UK) Publicise trafcking and related convictions nationally and internationally. Public awareness campaigns nationally to reduce demand e.g: beer mats in pubs, doctors surgeries, on screens, BBC sponsored, LOCOG screens, public service announcements. Engage with occupational health service on construction sites to put information regarding prostitution on their health promotion agenda.
4 5 1
1 2 1
1 1 1 1
How do we help create conditions for migrant women to feel condent in accessing the support systems on offer or being initiated?
Recommendations
Language interpretation: providing options and having cultural understanding; language line or interpreter Assess what agency can offer: no false promises; clear Establish routes out; clinical services Identify funding if available before making promises (statutory commitment to services) Understand levels of agency can offer of the women (complications) and fact that some of the women choose Long term strategy not 3 year plan Frameworkclear set of values 4 4
Votes
7 7
Can we create time limited amnesty for A10 women up to the Olympics including women from other countries?
Recommendations
Amnesty will increase access to services- co-ordinated response from 5 boroughs to support them Amnesty for limited period of 12 months Working with specialist projects/services that have knowledge around entitlements All professionals to have full understanding of what A10 residents are entitled to Need to recognise and engage with political issues What about housing needs and health needs? Limited resources already Amnesty open to all A10 not just sex workers
Can the strategy address the needs of children and young people if they are found?
Recommendations
Early preventative work might help prevent women from entering/staying in sex work (if UK-born/based using education; borders agency to ID and direct to statutory services) Training for professionals to enable them to identify children/young people using child-friendly language Identify exploitation issues National/London wide priority linked to Every Child Matters Thresholds for care are too high 3 3 2 2
Votes
How do we ensure that the endeavors put into hosting the Olympics dont marginalize sex workers even further (i.e. it becomes a clean up operation not an opportunity to provide services)?
Recommendations
There must be open acknowledgement that the Olympics will focus its efforts on what the cameras see not on the needs of any of its excluded population Ask LOCOG to take accountability for delivering on promises around urban regeneration and its impact on the socially excluded 4
Votes
How do we join up Policing and Service Providers on the 5 Olympic Boroughs to address prostitution?
Recommendations
Strategy around strands of prostitution. Agreement to use of enforcement/tools Use the Strategic Regeneration Framework to build a strategy- Bidding jointly Open spaces/coach parks environments Multi Agency Clubs and Vice Unit for 5 boroughs Shared resources/ enforcement across the ve boroughs Preventative and intervention activities YOTs to be joined up (youth offending team) Rapid response teams for young people (youth services) Part of night time economy strategy (Tackling alcohol/drugs) Overarching priority for 5 boroughs concerning women in prostitution and children Good practice shared amongst boroughs (education); what workssharing ideas Accreditation of speakers to young people (GLDUP project as good practice) Triage within custody areas; support workers available 2 2 2 5 10
Votes
Ensure specics for those involved both on and off the street are addressed in any strategy.
Recommendations
Women in both areas need different interventions to help them be safe and fairly treated. An acknowledgement of choice- no assumption of views Not to put regeneration before womens well being. 1
Votes
What is the role of the volunteering sector, including funders?

Recommendations
Fund, provide holistic person-centred support, with more exible approach to soft outcomes and long times scales Long- term engagement (even when miss appointments etc.) Advocacy for individual women Help women with no recourse to public funds Facilitate the womens voice Act as a critical voice for policy 4
Votes
4
How do we ensure women have a voice in what they want/need- now and beyond the Olympics?
Recommendations
Capturing good practise around service user involvement in other marginalised groups. (investment in service user involvement) Co-ordinated response across the 5 boroughs/ consistency
Votes
2 4
Analyse problem across London and target areas of prostitution and venues for football rather than clean up East End
Recommendations
Pan-London Strategic Assessment Multi-Agency CDRP to GLA Link to current structures Global event Is there a track record from previous games If there is high policing across East London, where will women be dispersed to and what will the impact on them be?
Votes
8 1
Concluding remarks
It seems that one key priority is the notion that a strategic group should be established, London wide chaired by Kit- with key senior stake holders. Invitation for closing remarks:
A number of projects were presented today that are moving toward gaining a consensus As a police ofcer I am keen to see a strategic group, and increased communication between agencies There has been a clear consensus- even though it is a challenge to establish long term aims across different agencies; there are different structural aims and views about what the aims should be but at the same time one clear aim is important whilst recognizing the complexity in denitions and types of prostitution. Many nuances to consider This was a good opportunity to network It is important that amongst this discussion the women that make a choice are not forgotten in any strategy that is focused on protecting the vulnerable A nuanced issue, multi layered, complex, thank you for recognising this. All decisions needs to reect the nuances and not leap into anything- we need strategies that are evidence based, not assumption based in relation to sex workers The event has been an excellent learning experience One thing to support is a strategic panel approach. When DH London started work on the Olympics different groups were established to plan. It is important to link up with the sexual health planning group endorsed by the DH Olympic group Concerns that assumptions are based on making it invisible- pushing it out is not going to make it any better- needs to be a plan not just an issue
Concluding remarks
Three years isnt long to go- of we are going to do something it needs to be quick, and together Well facilitated, allowing difference nuances to surface. In favour of panel, there is an opportunity as we are working together, lets not lose the energy from today. Working with 5 borough approach is valuable whilst there is commitment to this There has been a lot of myth busting today but my concern is that there may be political pressures to once more create myths - we will meet with pressures, and we are urged to work against this My overarching thought is that I feel there is a real opportunity created by the Olympics and cross borough work that will happen- this could be the opportunity to create a model which will develop as a Pan-London model, and opportunity to look at ethical questions around exploitation, choice- lets create a policy based on what we think a good society looks like Due to the 5 borough unit, there is a framework in place to build on- you not starting from nowhere. There have been big promises made about the legacy of the Olympics, so lets engage with this The opportunity we have and what the games provide is to use the power of the games to inspire long lasting change- this is what was meant by legacy- to encourage you to do the same. The long term is the key although there is an important part to be played before the games. In that regard it is not just three years to help focus the minds it is 146 Tuesdays- so not far away. To best use this time target the people who can directly inuence the things you seek to change This strategy does need to be London wide even a national strategy- if there are networks going on we can feed into them- we can stop reinventing the wheel and keep coming together. Lets not forget the young people- remember them in any strategies Great to see people committed to coordinated approach- we should build on it after Olympics as well We have to remember there will be a lot of layers- two such layers are the politicians and the community. We are committed but resources will be strained and to focus resources in this area will be difcult, we need to take communities with us Encouraged to see so many different agencies who are prepared to work together- multi agency approach. The Olympics can be a driver but longer term legacy is what is important Pan London eventually, but the ve boroughs have to use this as an opportunity to look at whats happening in East London. This is a key issue- multi layered and what we do has to be better than not doing anything. This is part of a bigger picture for East London and we should be looking at 2020 What happens to Londoners is important- today is encouraging using this as an opportunity to look at issues and what will happen long term. Sustainability is important Thank you to all for coming. Safe Exit at Toynbee Hall will take forward the aim of setting up a strategic group, focusing on keeping it small enough to be effective and including people with the right inuence. Closing remarks: Thanks to Alice and her team for their work in this difcult area. Thank you to you all- the more you put in the more you get out, you have all put in so thank you. Thanks to City Parochial for funding this tricky, even controversial area. And thanks to Annette for making this afternoon so successful.
Event led by Annette Zera www.gettingonbrilliantly.co.uk azera@gettingonbrilliantly.co.uk Design: Richard White richard.white@mail.com
Getting on Brilliantly
Toynbee Hall is a Registered Charity No. 211850. A company limited by guarantee. Registered Number 20080 England.

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Prostitution and the Olympics Summit

29th September 2009 Toynbee Hall, London