PEER (Promoting Education, Empowerment and Research):

Exploring the Lives of Sex Workers in Tyne and Wear

Adele Irving and Dr Mary Laing

Recent Research

• Evaluation of the UKNSWP ‘National Ugly Mugs’ (NUM) Pilot Scheme

• Male Action Project (MAP)

• PEER: Exploring the Lives of Sex Workers in Tyne and Wear

PEER Overview

• Partnership project - GAP (Cyrenians).• Provide a robust evidence base regarding the

experiences and service needs of women engaging in sex work in Tyne and Wear.

• Peer-led methodology.• 36 sex worker interviews (14 escorts, 20 survival

sex workers, 1 trafficked woman, 1 male escort).• 15 stakeholder interviews, 1 focus group.

Survival Findings: Demographics and Sex Work

• 6 or 13 regarded sex work as main source of income.• 6 of 14 had qualifications.• 7 engaged in sex work before the age of 17.• 16 of 19 experienced life event linked to entry.• 15 of 16 do not ‘enjoy’ sex work. • 10 of 15 outlined strategies aimed at harm minimisation.• 10 of 14 have had strange requests. • 10 of 14 have had bad experiences. • 10 of 14 have had violent experiences.

Survival Findings: Health and Relationships

• 14 of 16 sex work had not impacted on physical health. • 10 of 15 sex work had not impacted on sexual health.• All 18 women reported mental health difficulties. • 12 of 14 have felt judged by a service provider. • 10 of 12 have had social services involvement. • 13 of 16 described childhood in negative / neutral terms. • 9 of 12 experienced significant life event as a child. • 5 of 11 reported to have friends. 3 of 9 close to family. • 13 of 15 victims of domestic violence.

Survival Findings: Addiction, Housing and Offending

• 15 of 16 had experienced problematic drug use. • 9 of 11 accessing drug treatment. • 15 of 19 had experienced homelessness. • 8 living in supported or temporary accommodation. • 9 of 10 linked sex work and homelessness.• 6 of 11 worried that sex work is illegal.• All 15 women had a criminal record. • 11 of 14 women had been to prison. • 4 of 8 women reported receiving help when left prison.

Escort Findings: Demographics and Escorting

• 13 of 14 experiences of other types of work.• 8 were introduced by a friend.• 6 of 12 run as a business. 5 of 12 pay tax.• 12 of 12 enjoy escort work. • 12 of 12 identified drawbacks.• Strategies for keeping safe and minimising risk evident,

some underlying worries.• Described good clients and bad clients.• All 9 described positive relationships with regular clients.• 5 of 14 had experienced a violent client.

Escort Findings: Health and Relationships

• 8 of 10 reported positive impact on confidence.• 10 of 11 felt there to be stigma around escorting. • 6 of 12 reported emotional impact from escort work.• Physical health: 4 no impact, 2 positive, 6 negative. • 11 of 11 reported no negative impacts on sexual health. • 7 of 13 identified mental health issues. • 8 of 11 had experienced domestic violence. • 7 positive childhoods. 4 negative childhoods.• 12 of 12 reported positive social networks.

Escort Findings: Addiction, Housing and Offending

• One case of problematic drugs use. • One instance of housing problems.• 5 of 10 understand the law re: sex work. • 5 of 10 police have negative perception of escorts.• 3 of 10 have contacted the police in relation to escorting. • 6 of 11 would contact the police if they had to.• 3 of 12 women have a criminal record.• None been to prison.

Stakeholder Findings

• Mixed levels of knowledge and awareness:– Types of service– Strategic Vs Operational

• Low levels of disclosure. • Service users not routinely asked about involvement in

sex work. • Further training Vs Competing priorities. • Support for local sex work strategy.

Recommendations • Sex work training • Dedicated Liaison Officers• Dedicated escort service• Greater partnership working between: – CJS, homelessness and women’s projects– Social services and sex work projects

• Mental health and domestic violence• Additional specialist sex work projects• Continuation funding for GAP • Local sex work strategy

Thank you

• Any questions?

• Mary Laing, Lecturer in Criminology, Social Sciences, Mary.laing@northumbria.ac.uk

• Adele Irving, Research Fellow, Centre for Public Policy, Adele2.irving@northumbria.ac.uk