This briefing explores the nature of street sex work and policy responses, drawing on an ongoing evaluation of an arrest referral scheme for women street sex workers. It describes the background to the project, in the wider context of street sex work and the law, agency responses and issues for local communities. It then goes on to discuss the main findings from the first year of the evaluation, concluding with the implications for policy and practice.

This guide covers factors driving women and children into the sex industry, the tactics of pimps and traffickers, demand – men as customers, buyers, and sexual exploiters of women and children, the language of choice, consent and rights in relation to trafficked and prostituted, prostitution as exploitation of women, responding to legalisation and decriminalisation arguments, naming trafficking and prostitution as violence against women, profits made from trafficking and prostitution, social and gender equality consequences, and international human rights mechanisms for combating trafficking for sexual exploitation.

This paper examines the differences in demographics, drug use patterns and self reported risk behaviours between regular injecting drug users (IDU) who report engaging in sex work for money or drugs and regular injecting drug users who do not.

Sections cover the history of prostitution legislation, barriers to discussion and debate, the sex industry, the connection between prostitution and drugs, comparing policy regimes, legalisation, regulation, and criminalizing demand.

The aim of a managed zone is to physically restrict street prostitution to an agreed non-residential area. It should be designed to minimise any harm to communities (residential and business) while maximising the opportunity to provide protection and support services to women working on the streets. Ultimately a managed area should help address the causes of prostitution and assist those involved with returning to legitimate forms of income generation. In order to work, the implementation of a managed zone requires a zero tolerance approach to prostitution taking place in any area outside of the zone.