Understanding Prostitution in New Westminster: Laws, Realities & Resources

New Westminster, like many urban centers, experiences the presence of street-based sex work alongside other forms of the sex industry. This complex issue intersects with law enforcement, public health, community safety, and the rights and vulnerabilities of sex workers. This guide aims to provide factual information about the situation in New Westminster, focusing on legal frameworks, safety concerns for workers and residents, areas of activity, and available support services, all grounded in the context of British Columbia’s laws and local dynamics.

Is Prostitution Legal in New Westminster, BC?

Short Answer: Prostitution itself (the exchange of sexual services for money) is not illegal in Canada. However, nearly all activities surrounding it, especially those involving third parties or occurring in public, are criminalized under federal law.

The legal landscape governing sex work in New Westminster is defined by the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA), enacted in 2014. This federal law criminalizes:

• Purchasing Sexual Services: It is illegal to pay for, or attempt to pay for, sexual services.
• Communicating for the Purpose of Purchasing: Stopping or communicating with someone in a public place for the purpose of buying sexual services is prohibited.
• Material Benefit: Receiving a financial or other material benefit from someone else’s sex work (e.g., pimping, managing, profiting off exploitation) is illegal, even if the worker consents.
• Procuring: Recruiting, enticing, or holding someone for the purpose of prostitution is illegal.
• Advertising Sexual Services: Knowingly advertising an offer to provide sexual services is illegal.

Essentially, the law targets buyers (“johns”) and third parties (pimps, exploitative managers), while theoretically not criminalizing the selling of sexual services by the individual worker. However, the prohibition on communication in public places significantly impacts street-based sex workers, forcing transactions underground and making it difficult for them to screen clients safely. The criminalization of advertising also pushes communication to less secure platforms.

Where Does Street-Based Sex Work Occur in New Westminster?

Short Answer: Street-based sex work in New Westminster is primarily concentrated in specific areas known for industrial zones, lower visibility, and proximity to major transportation routes, particularly within the Brow of the Hill and Sapperton neighborhoods.

Historically and currently, street-based sex work tends to cluster in areas that offer a degree of anonymity and relative seclusion, often away from high-traffic residential streets but accessible to vehicle traffic. In New Westminster, this has frequently included:

• Industrial Areas: Streets bordering industrial zones, especially near the Fraser River or railway lines, often see activity due to lower pedestrian traffic at night.
• Certain Sections of East Columbia Street: Parts of this corridor, particularly towards the eastern end near Brunette Avenue and Braid Street, have been identified as areas of concern in the past.
• Peripheral Roads near Highways: Access roads near major arteries like Highway 1 or the Queensborough Bridge can be locations.
• Less Populated Side Streets: Specific side streets within Brow of the Hill and Sapperton, often intersecting with the areas above.

It’s crucial to understand that these locations can shift over time due to police enforcement pressure (“displacement effect”), community complaints, development changes, or efforts by workers themselves to find safer spots. The New Westminster Police Department (NWPD) often identifies specific “hotspots” through patrols and community reports.

Why are Certain Areas in New Westminster Used for Street-Based Sex Work?

Short Answer: Street-based workers often operate in areas offering perceived anonymity, client accessibility by vehicle, and distance from high-visibility residential zones, driven by the need to avoid police detection due to communication laws.

Several factors contribute to the location choices:

• Criminalization of Communication: The law banning communicating in public *for the purpose of purchasing* forces transactions to happen quickly and in less conspicuous areas.
• Client Access: Areas easily accessible by car are preferred by clients seeking anonymity.
• Reduced Visibility: Workers seek spots away from direct observation by residents, businesses, and police patrols to avoid arrest or harassment.
• Displacement: Enforcement in one area often pushes activity into adjacent neighborhoods.
• Historical Patterns: Some areas develop a reputation over time.

This dynamic creates tension between worker safety (needing to screen clients properly) and legal realities (needing to avoid prolonged public communication).

What are the Safety Risks for Sex Workers in New Westminster?

Short Answer: Sex workers, particularly those working on the street, face significant risks including violence (physical/sexual assault), robbery, exploitation by pimps, health hazards, and arrest, exacerbated by the criminalized environment.

The PCEPA’s framework, despite aiming to protect exploited persons, inadvertently increases dangers for many workers:

• Increased Vulnerability to Violence: Rushed negotiations and transactions due to fear of police make proper client screening difficult. Workers are less likely to report violence to police due to fear of arrest or stigma.
• Exploitation: Criminalizing third-party benefits doesn’t eliminate exploitative managers/pimps; it can drive relationships further underground, making it harder for workers to seek help.
• Barriers to Safe Workplaces: Laws against bawdy-houses prevent workers from legally renting indoor spaces together for safety.
• Health Risks: Limited time for negotiation reduces the ability to insist on condom use or discuss health boundaries. Barriers to accessing health services due to stigma.
• Stigma and Discrimination: Leads to social isolation, difficulty finding housing/employment, and reluctance to seek help.

Street-based workers, often coping with substance use, homelessness, or past trauma, are at the highest risk level.

What Safety Resources Exist for Sex Workers in New Westminster?

Short Answer: Key resources include PEERS New Westminster (peer support, outreach, harm reduction), Fraser Health Authority services (STI testing, healthcare), SWAN Vancouver (legal/social support), and the New Westminster Police Victim Services unit.

Several organizations offer critical support:

• PEERS New Westminster: Provides outreach, harm reduction supplies (condoms, naloxone), peer support, accompaniment, advocacy, and referrals. A vital frontline service run largely by current/former sex workers.
• Fraser Health Authority: Offers confidential STI/HIV testing and treatment, sexual health clinics, mental health and substance use support services.
• SWAN Vancouver (Supporting Women’s Alternatives Network): Focuses on migrant sex workers and all women in the industry, offering legal advocacy, support navigating systems, and cultural-specific services.
• New Westminster Police Department Victim Services: Can provide support and information to victims of crime, including sex workers who experience violence, though trust barriers often exist.
• Community-Based Organizations: Groups like the Elizabeth Fry Society offer support related to the justice system and housing.

Accessing these resources can be challenging due to fear, stigma, transportation, or lack of awareness.

How Does Street-Based Sex Work Impact New Westminster Communities?

Short Answer: Residents and businesses in affected areas often report concerns about discarded needles/condoms, public disturbances, noise, solicitation, feeling unsafe, and potential impacts on property values.

The presence of street-based sex work can generate significant community concern, primarily in neighborhoods where it’s visible:

• Public Nuisance Issues: Residents report finding discarded condoms, needles (related to substance use, not inherently to sex work), and other paraphernalia in public spaces, alleys, or near properties.
• Noise and Disturbance: Vehicle traffic late at night, arguments, or other disturbances associated with street activity.
• Perception of Safety: Some residents, particularly women walking alone at night, express feeling unsafe or intimidated by the presence of sex workers or clients.
• Solicitation: Residents occasionally report being mistakenly solicited by clients or approached by workers.
• Impact on Business: Some businesses feel it deters customers or creates an unwelcoming environment.

Balancing these legitimate community concerns with the safety and human rights of sex workers is an ongoing challenge for the city and police.

What is the New Westminster Police Department’s (NWPD) Approach?

Short Answer: The NWPD focuses on enforcing federal laws targeting buyers and exploiters, responding to community complaints about public nuisance/safety, and connecting vulnerable individuals (including workers) with support services.

The NWPD operates under the constraints of federal law (PCEPA). Their strategy typically involves:

• Targeting Buyers (Johns): Conducting enforcement operations focused on identifying and charging individuals attempting to purchase sexual services.
• Targeting Exploiters: Investigating and charging individuals profiting from the exploitation of others (pimps).
• Addressing Public Nuisance: Responding to community complaints regarding specific behaviors or locations, which may involve moving individuals along or addressing related issues like drug use or vandalism.
• Collaboration with Social Services: Partnering with organizations like PEERS to connect vulnerable individuals, including sex workers, with health and social support resources, recognizing that many are victims of exploitation or face complex challenges.
• Community Engagement: Working with residents and businesses in affected areas to address concerns and share information.

The effectiveness and impact of enforcement strategies on overall community safety and worker safety remain topics of debate.

What’s the Difference Between Street-Based Workers and Agency/Escort Workers?

Short Answer: Street-based work is highly visible, dangerous, and often linked to survival needs/exploitation, while agency/escort work typically operates indoors (discreetly), offers more safety control, and may involve higher income levels.

Feature	Street-Based Sex Work	Agency/Escort/Independent Indoor Work
Visibility	High (Public spaces)	Low (Private incalls, outcalls, online)
Primary Risk Factors	Violence, arrest, exploitation, weather, substance use coercion	Client violence (still a risk), less policing, isolation
Client Interaction	Brief, rushed (due to laws)	More time for screening, negotiation
Income Level	Generally lower, unpredictable	Generally higher, more stable
Typical Worker Profile	Higher prevalence of substance use issues, homelessness, severe exploitation, survival sex	More diverse; includes students, migrants, independent entrepreneurs; still risk of exploitation
Legal Pressure	High (communication laws, public nuisance)	Lower visibility, but advertising laws still apply
Support Access	Outreach services crucial (e.g., PEERS)	May access services discreetly or online

Workers can move between these sectors, and experiences vary widely. Agency work isn’t without risks, but street work is consistently identified as the most dangerous sector.

What are Harm Reduction Strategies for Sex Workers?

Short Answer: Harm reduction focuses on minimizing the risks sex workers face, including peer support, safety planning, access to health supplies (condoms/naloxone), bad date lists, and advocating for decriminalization.

Recognizing the dangers inherent in sex work, especially under criminalization, harm reduction strategies are vital:

• Peer Outreach & Support: Organizations like PEERS provide non-judgmental support, practical supplies, and information from those with lived experience.
• Safety Planning: Encouraging buddy systems, client screening techniques (even when rushed), sharing location details, and establishing check-ins.
• Access to Supplies: Free condoms, lubricant, naloxone kits (for opioid overdose reversal), safer drug use kits, and hygiene products.
• Bad Date/Client Lists: Anonymous community-run lists (often shared online or through outreach) warning workers about violent or dangerous clients.
• Legal Information: Educating workers about their rights and the laws that affect them.
• Advocacy for Decriminalization: Many health organizations and sex worker rights groups advocate for the full decriminalization of sex work (following the “New Zealand model”) as the most effective harm reduction strategy, arguing it allows workers to organize for safety, report crimes without fear, and access health services freely.

Harm reduction accepts that sex work exists and prioritizes keeping people alive and as safe as possible in the current environment.

How Can Residents Report Concerns Safely and Effectively?

Short Answer: Report specific criminal activity or immediate safety threats to the NWPD non-emergency line or 911 for emergencies. Report non-emergency nuisance issues (like discarded needles) through the city’s official channels (app, website, phone). Avoid confronting individuals.

If residents have concerns:

1. Emergencies (Crime in Progress, Violence, Medical Emergency): Call 911.
2. Non-Emergency Police Matters (Suspicious activity, ongoing nuisance linked to crime): Contact the NWPD Non-Emergency Line. Be prepared to provide specific details: location, time, descriptions of people/vehicles involved, nature of the activity.
3. Non-Emergency City Services (Discarded needles, condoms, garbage): Use the New Westminster city app (e.g., “New West Connect”), the city website reporting portal, or call the Engineering & Operations department for needle pickup/disposal.
4. Community Concerns: Raise issues at Community Policing Committee meetings or through your Neighborhood Association.

Important: Avoid taking matters into your own hands or confronting individuals, as this can escalate situations. Focus reporting on specific behaviors or hazards, not the presence of individuals assumed to be sex workers. Understanding that sex workers are often victims of exploitation and violence fosters a more compassionate community response.

What is the Debate Around Decriminalization in BC?

Short Answer: Advocates argue full decriminalization improves sex worker safety by allowing them to work together, screen clients, and report crimes freely. Opponents fear it increases exploitation and trafficking or normalizes the sex industry.

The current PCEPA model (“end demand” targeting buyers) is contentious:

• Pro-Decriminalization Arguments:
  • Worker Safety: Allows workers to operate openly, work together indoors for safety, screen clients thoroughly, negotiate terms, and report violence to police without fear of arrest.
  • Health Access: Reduces stigma, making workers more likely to access healthcare and support services.
  • Rights-Based Approach: Recognizes sex work as labor and affirms workers’ rights to safety and autonomy.
  • Evidence from New Zealand: Studies since decriminalization in 2003 show improved worker safety, better relations with police, and no increase in trafficking.
  • Focus on Real Exploitation: Allows law enforcement to focus resources on combating human trafficking and exploitation, distinct from consensual adult sex work.
• Anti-Decriminalization / “Nordic Model” Arguments:
  • Commodification/Exploitation: Argues all prostitution is inherently exploitative and harmful, and the state should not legitimize it.
  • Increased Trafficking: Fears that decriminalization would increase demand, leading to more trafficking to meet it.
  • Community Impact: Concerns about potential expansion of the industry and negative impacts on neighborhoods.
  • Moral Objection: Fundamental belief that the buying and selling of sex is morally wrong.
  • Focus on Exiting: Believes resources should focus solely on helping people exit prostitution, not making it safer.

This debate continues at federal and provincial levels, significantly impacting policy discussions relevant to New Westminster. Organizations like PEERS and SWAN are strong advocates for decriminalization based on worker safety.