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London sex workers win landmark judgement against police
LONDON: London's sex workers have won a legal challenge against a police decision that prohibited them from attending to clients in their residential apartments. Two sex workers' flats in Soho, central London were re-opened on Friday by a judge at Isleworth crown court.
Judge JW Kingston rejected police evidence that women working in walk-up flats in Brewer Street were being controlled or incited into prostitution for gain. He overturned the closure order and directed that the flat could reopen.
These closures came about from mass police raids on Soho flats on December 4, 2013. Around 200 officers in riot gear with dogs broke down doors, handcuffed women and dragged at least one woman out in her underwear.
Closure notices were issued against 18 flats and closure orders were then confirmed by a district judge at Hammersmith magistrates court in subsequent court cases.
Closure Orders (Sexual Offences Act 2003, amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2009) give the police and courts powers to close premises for up to six months if police can show that "activities related to" prostitution offences are being committed namely "controlling for gain" and "causing and inciting prostitution".
On Friday, Judge Kingston ruled: "The furthest the evidence goes is to show that the appellants used the first and second floor flats for prostitution by arrangement with other sex workers at mutually convenient and agreed times. That does not constitute control within the meaning of Section 53 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003."
Niki Adams of the English Collective of Prostitutes, who gave evidence in support of the two women, commented: "These closures should never have come to court. The police misled the public and claimed that they were needed to prevent rape and trafficking. No victims of trafficking were found; instead the police threw women out of the relative safety of their flats. This decision is timely as women have been without an income since the beginning of December. Many are in debt and some were about to be made homeless."
In her evidence to the court Adams highlighted the issue of safety "Soho is one of the safest places for women to work as they have a maid or receptionist with them, CCTV to monitor clients and the solid support of the local community."
She drew attention to the recent murders of two sex workers who were working on the street.
London sex workers win landmark judgment against police - The Times of India
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A most interesting situation that has come to pass.
While it protects the rights of these women, yet it would be disturbing for other tenants to find that their address draws contempt and sniggers.
What if some 'customers' turn out to be professional thieves? The tenants are then be exposed to the threat of robbery and even assault!
Quite a conundrum in rights and ethics!
LONDON: London's sex workers have won a legal challenge against a police decision that prohibited them from attending to clients in their residential apartments. Two sex workers' flats in Soho, central London were re-opened on Friday by a judge at Isleworth crown court.
Judge JW Kingston rejected police evidence that women working in walk-up flats in Brewer Street were being controlled or incited into prostitution for gain. He overturned the closure order and directed that the flat could reopen.
These closures came about from mass police raids on Soho flats on December 4, 2013. Around 200 officers in riot gear with dogs broke down doors, handcuffed women and dragged at least one woman out in her underwear.
Closure notices were issued against 18 flats and closure orders were then confirmed by a district judge at Hammersmith magistrates court in subsequent court cases.
Closure Orders (Sexual Offences Act 2003, amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2009) give the police and courts powers to close premises for up to six months if police can show that "activities related to" prostitution offences are being committed namely "controlling for gain" and "causing and inciting prostitution".
On Friday, Judge Kingston ruled: "The furthest the evidence goes is to show that the appellants used the first and second floor flats for prostitution by arrangement with other sex workers at mutually convenient and agreed times. That does not constitute control within the meaning of Section 53 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003."
Niki Adams of the English Collective of Prostitutes, who gave evidence in support of the two women, commented: "These closures should never have come to court. The police misled the public and claimed that they were needed to prevent rape and trafficking. No victims of trafficking were found; instead the police threw women out of the relative safety of their flats. This decision is timely as women have been without an income since the beginning of December. Many are in debt and some were about to be made homeless."
In her evidence to the court Adams highlighted the issue of safety "Soho is one of the safest places for women to work as they have a maid or receptionist with them, CCTV to monitor clients and the solid support of the local community."
She drew attention to the recent murders of two sex workers who were working on the street.
London sex workers win landmark judgment against police - The Times of India
***********************************************************************************
A most interesting situation that has come to pass.
While it protects the rights of these women, yet it would be disturbing for other tenants to find that their address draws contempt and sniggers.
What if some 'customers' turn out to be professional thieves? The tenants are then be exposed to the threat of robbery and even assault!
Quite a conundrum in rights and ethics!
