Peer Research Into Sex Work in Durham And

"The Type of Girl That Would Do That" Peer led research into sex work in Durham and Darlington October 2016 CONTENTS Executive Summary.................................................................. ....1 Introduction..................................................................................4 Background and Methodology......................................................6 Language and Definitions.............................................................7 Durham and Darlington – the local context..................................9 The Geography of Selling Sex......................................................10 Survival Sex Work........................................................................11 The Nature of Survival Sex Work.....................................................................11 Links to Accommodation and Homelessness...............................................12 Experiences of Childhood Abuse.....................................................................12 Experiences of Adult Abuse and Exploitation................................................13 Links to Substance Use.....................................................................................13 Mental Ill Health and Emotional Well-being...................................................14 Escorts.........................................................................................16 The Internet and the Sex Industry...................................................................17 Escort Agencies and Independent Work.......................................................18 Links to the Visible Economy...........................................................................18 Links to Substance Use....................................................................................19 Mental Ill Health and Emotional Well-being .................................................19 Experiences of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Grooming....21 Local and National Trafficking..........................................................................23 Men Who Buy Sex..........................................................................25 Experiences of Violence................................................................27 Safety: Awareness and Strategies Adopted...................................................28 Physical and Sexual Health...........................................................30 Experiences with the Police and the Criminal Justice System.....32 www.changing-lives.org.uk Registered Charity No 500640 Service Provision...........................................................................35 Drug and Alcohol Services .................................................................................37 Accommodation..................................................................................................38 Sexual Health Services.......................................................................................39 Social Services.....................................................................................................39 Changes in the Care Act 2014...........................................................................40 Specialist Support...............................................................................................40 Future Ambitions of the Women Interviewed...............................42 Conclusion.....................................................................................44 Recommendations........................................................................46 Appendix........................................................................................48 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This study sets out to understand the broadly defined as survival sex workers, nature of sex work in County Durham and opportunistic sex workers, escorts, or Darlington, and to examine interactions those who have experienced child sexual between sex workers and the services that exploitation. Due to the complexities of they are likely to come into contact with. these women’s lives categorisations The study used the successful, peer-led which were given for the purpose of this methodology of Changing Lives’ Girls Are study are likely to change with the Proud (GAP) project, to uncover truths circumstances of individuals. about the lived experiences of sex workers that operate in County Durham and Twenty women were interviewed in this Darlington. The research behind this study. Internet searches using popular report took place in 2015. adult sites showed over two hundred people (male and female) advertising The study identified and trained three sexual services in County Durham and women, who were themselves engaged Darlington. This figure is still likely to be an in sex work, to interview and gather data underestimate of sex work in the area, due from their peers. The study found that the to the hidden nature of survival sex work. lack of a visible ‘red light district’ in these areas, does not equate to the lack of a The focus of this study is female sex work sex industry, or that sexual exploitation however it does uncover some anecdotal does not therefore occur. All but one of the evidence of male sex work in these areas. women interviewed noted that sex work in A further study would need to take place to Durham and Darlington is hidden, and also explore this in detail. appeared to believe that the residents and police force would prefer not to Escorts, who engage in more formalised acknowledge its existence. sexual exchanges, were shown to be more likely to report feeling in control of their Rather than working on the street women engagement in the sex industry than are more likely to sell sex to drug dealers, survival sex workers. Escorts also, however advertise in newspapers or on-line, pick up reported high levels of social isolation and men opportunistically in pubs, or exchange problems with escort agencies. They sex for drugs, alcohol or accommodation. were also still at risk from violence and It was discovered that women engaged degrading requests from those who in sex work are likely to experience purchased sex from them. domestic abuse and violence, as well as violence from customers. They are also Evidence of child sexual exploitation was likely to experience mental ill health which demonstrated in interviews with younger is often attributable to trauma experienced women. These women often show low as children or adults. levels of understanding about what exploitation is and how they had been Women who engage in sexual exchanges in groomed as part of their exploitation. the County Durham and Darlington can be 1 www.changing-lives.org.uk Registered Charity No 500640 This study also looked at the interactions Establish a specialist sex work and between sex workers and the statutory and 1 sexual exploitation service in County non-agencies they often came into contact Durham and Darlington. There is a distinct with. Six core services that came into need for a service which can reach and contact with sex workers were identified support sex workers, and those who are and sixteen of their staff interviewed. The vulnerable to sexual exploitation in County services were; drug and alcohol services; Durham and Darlington. It is recommended sexual health services; probation/ that funding is made available for one full community rehabilitation; police; and, time worker to develop a specialist service social services. in Durham and Darlington. Services should be based on successful models in the Women were also asked about their wider region, and include emotional and interactions with services and the level of practical support via assertive outreach. support that they perceived they had Women should be able to access long term, received in relation to their sex work one-to-one support with a designated key or exploitation. It emerged that profession- worker and via group drop-in sessions. als feel that they could do more to support the specific needs of sex workers and that Up-skill the workforce in relation to they do not fully understand the available 2 identifying and responding to the referral routes once a disclosure is made. needs of individuals exposed to sexual None of the professionals interviewed had exploitation and/or involved in sex work. received any training in this area. Through Statutory and non-statutory agencies the findings of this research, it is apparent should attend multi-agency specialist that there is a demand for a specialised training on sex work and sexual service for sex workers and those vulnera- exploitation. This should include but not be ble to sexual exploitation in Country limited to agencies and individuals such as Durham and Darlington. GPs, pharmacies, social services, accommodation services, police officers The women reported that the men who and women’s services. purchase sex from them have wide-ranging jobs including plumbers, take away staff, Front line services should use available taxi drivers and university lecturers. There 3 guidance on trauma-informed practice were also wide ranges in the age and to better empathise with clients and ethnicity of the men that bought sex. The understand their needs. One important data gathered in this study has been benefit of this is approach is to improve analysed in order to develop the following women and professionals’ understanding six recommendations which are aimed at of the links between trauma, behaviour, meeting the gaps in service provision: mental health and substance

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