Understanding Prostitution in Portsmouth: A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating the topic of prostitution in Portsmouth requires understanding its complex legal, social, and health dimensions. This guide provides factual information on the laws, available support services, health resources, and the lived realities for sex workers in the city. Our focus is on safety, harm reduction, and access to support, acknowledging the varied circumstances that lead individuals into sex work.

Is Prostitution Legal in Portsmouth?

No, paying for sexual services is not illegal in England, but many associated activities are criminalised. Prostitution itself isn’t illegal under UK law. However, crucial surrounding activities are offences. Soliciting (attempting to buy or sell sex in a public place) is illegal. Operating or managing a brothel (where more than one sex worker operates) is illegal. Kerb-crawling (soliciting sex from a vehicle) is illegal. Loitering or soliciting for the purposes of prostitution is an offence. Portsmouth Police enforce these laws, particularly focusing on public nuisance and exploitation concerns.

What is the Legal Position on Brothels and Working Together?

Operating a brothel, or even allowing premises to be used as one, is illegal. This makes it difficult and risky for sex workers to work together indoors for safety. While two sex workers technically sharing premises *might* not always be prosecuted as a brothel, the legal line is blurry and generally discouraged by authorities. Most legal advice strongly cautions against multiple independent workers using the same location due to the significant risk of falling foul of brothel-keeping laws.

Can Sex Workers Advertise Their Services Legally?

Yes, advertising sexual services is generally legal in the UK, provided the advertisement itself isn’t deemed indecent or obscene. Many sex workers in Portsmouth, especially those working independently indoors, use online platforms and directories to advertise services discreetly and manage their clientele. This contrasts sharply with the illegality of street-based soliciting.

What Support Services Exist for Sex Workers in Portsmouth?

Several key organisations provide vital non-judgmental support to sex workers in Portsmouth. The Corner House, operated by Society of St James, offers a dedicated drop-in service for women involved in street sex work, providing practical support, advice, advocacy, healthcare access (including sexual health screening), and pathways to exiting. Local branches of national charities like Changing Lives also provide outreach support, focusing on harm reduction, safety planning, and access to housing, benefits, and drug/alcohol treatment if needed. These services operate under strict confidentiality principles.

Where Can Sex Workers Access Free & Confidential Sexual Health Testing?

Sex workers in Portsmouth can access confidential sexual health testing and treatment through several routes. The Harbour Centre (Solent Sexual Health Service) offers comprehensive STI screening, contraception, and treatment. The Corner House often facilitates easier access to screening specifically for street-based sex workers. Brook Advisory Centre provides sexual health services for young people under 25. All NHS sexual health clinics offer free, confidential services without requiring proof of address or immigration status.

Are There Specific Programs for Exiting Prostitution?

Yes, support services in Portsmouth actively help individuals who wish to leave sex work. Organisations like The Corner House and Changing Lives provide tailored support plans. This includes: Safety planning (securing accommodation away from previous locations/exploiters), Access to drug and alcohol treatment services if required, Support with mental health needs, often through referrals to NHS or specialist services, Practical help accessing benefits, training, education, and employment opportunities, Ongoing emotional support and advocacy. The process is complex and non-linear, requiring sustained, individualised support.

What are the Main Areas Associated with Street Sex Work in Portsmouth?

Street-based sex work in Portsmouth has historically been concentrated in specific areas, primarily Somerstown (especially around St. Paul’s Road and neighbouring streets) and parts of Tipner. These areas are known for higher levels of deprivation. Police and outreach services often focus patrols and support in these locations due to the visible nature of the activity and associated concerns like community impact, drug use, and vulnerability to violence. It’s crucial to understand that street work represents only a portion of the sex industry, with many workers operating indoors or online.

What Safety Risks Do Street Sex Workers Face?

Street sex workers in Portsmouth face significant safety risks: High vulnerability to physical and sexual violence from clients or others, Increased risk of robbery and exploitation, Greater exposure to adverse weather and unsafe locations, Heightened visibility leading to arrest for soliciting, Increased pressure to engage in riskier practices without time for safety screening, Coercion and control by third parties or partners involved in drug supply. These risks underscore the importance of outreach services and harm reduction strategies.

How Does Indoor Sex Work Differ in Portsmouth?

Indoor sex work in Portsmouth (working from homes, hotels, or private apartments) offers different realities. Workers generally have more control over client screening and safety measures (meeting times, security). They face less immediate risk of street violence or arrest for soliciting. However, they still face risks like client violence in private settings, potential exposure to brothel-keeping laws if working with others, stigma, isolation, and reliance on online advertising/platforms. Indoor workers may be less visible to support services unless they actively seek help.

What is Portsmouth’s Approach to Policing Prostitution?

Portsmouth employs a multi-agency approach, balancing enforcement with harm reduction. Hampshire Constabulary works with the local authority (Portsmouth City Council) and support services (like The Corner House). Enforcement focuses on tackling exploitation (modern slavery), disrupting organised crime linked to prostitution, prosecuting violent offenders targeting sex workers, and addressing community concerns like kerb-crawling and public soliciting in residential areas. Increasingly, there’s a focus on diverting vulnerable individuals into support services rather than solely criminalising soliciting.

What is the Role of the “Ugly Mugs” Scheme?

The “Ugly Mugs” (UM) scheme is a crucial national safety initiative used in Portsmouth. Sex workers can anonymously report violent or dangerous clients (described as “ugly mugs”) to a central database via support services like The Corner House. This information is then circulated as alerts to other sex workers in the area, helping them avoid known dangerous individuals. Reports can also be shared (anonymously) with police to aid investigations, although workers often fear direct police involvement due to their legal status. It’s a vital peer-led harm reduction tool.

How Does Drug Use Intersect with Street Sex Work in Portsmouth?

There is a recognised intersection between problematic drug use (particularly heroin and crack cocaine) and street sex work in Portsmouth. For some individuals, sex work is a means to fund addiction. This creates complex vulnerabilities: increased health risks (needle sharing, overdose), heightened exposure to violence and exploitation by dealers or coercive partners, difficulty engaging with support services, and greater risk of arrest. Support services adopt harm reduction approaches, offering needle exchanges, naloxone training (for overdose reversal), and pathways into drug treatment alongside sex work support.

Where Can Individuals Access Help if Exploited?

Individuals in Portsmouth who feel exploited, trafficked, or controlled within the sex industry have several avenues for help. The Modern Slavery Helpline (08000 121 700) offers confidential support and advice 24/7. Hampshire Constabulary has a dedicated team investigating modern slavery and exploitation – reports can be made online, via 101, or anonymously through Crimestoppers (0800 555 111). Specialist support services like The Corner House or Unseen UK provide direct support, advocacy, and access to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for potential victims of trafficking. The Harbour Centre and other NHS services can also be initial points of contact for health-related signs of exploitation.

What is the National Referral Mechanism (NRM)?

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is the UK’s framework for identifying and supporting potential victims of modern slavery, including sexual exploitation. First Responder Organisations (like police, local authorities, and designated NGOs) can refer individuals they believe are victims. If accepted, the individual receives a minimum 45-day “Recovery and Reflection” period with access to accommodation, financial support, legal advice, medical care, and counselling. A conclusive grounds decision is later made on whether they are a confirmed victim. Specialist support continues for confirmed victims. Services in Portsmouth assist individuals through this complex process.

What Support Exists for Male or Transgender Sex Workers?

While services like The Corner House primarily support women, support for male and transgender sex workers in Portsmouth is available, though sometimes less visible. Sexual health services like The Harbour Centre are inclusive. National organisations such as SWARM (Sex Worker Advocacy and Resistance Movement) offer online resources and peer support. Galop provides specialist support for LGBT+ victims of violence and abuse. Local LGBT+ support groups may also offer signposting. Outreach services often strive to be inclusive, but male and trans workers may face specific barriers accessing support due to stigma and service design.

How Does Stigma Impact Sex Workers in Portsmouth?

Stigma profoundly impacts sex workers in Portsmouth across all areas of life. It creates barriers to accessing healthcare (fear of judgment from professionals), housing (discrimination by landlords), employment (difficulty securing mainstream jobs), and social support (isolation from family/friends). Stigma fuels discrimination and violence, as perpetrators may assume sex workers won’t report crimes. It also hinders workers from seeking help from police or support services. This societal prejudice contributes to the vulnerability and marginalisation experienced by many in the sex industry.

What is the Difference Between Sex Work and Trafficking?

It’s vital to distinguish consensual adult sex work from trafficking/exploitation. Sex Work involves adults voluntarily exchanging sexual services for money or goods, even if driven by economic necessity. They retain some agency over their work. Trafficking/Exploitation involves force, coercion, deception, or abuse of vulnerability. Individuals are controlled by others, cannot leave, and are exploited for profit. Portsmouth services use tools like the Trafficking Screening Tool to identify signs of exploitation (e.g., controlled movement, confiscated documents, extreme fear, signs of physical abuse, no control over money). The presence of a third party controlling the worker is a major red flag.

Are There Advocacy Groups for Sex Workers’ Rights in Portsmouth?

While there may not be large, locally-based sex worker-led collectives in Portsmouth, national advocacy groups are active. Organisations like SWARM (Sex Worker Advocacy and Resistance Movement), National Ugly Mugs (NUM), and the English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP) campaign for sex workers’ rights, safety, and decriminalisation. They provide resources, legal information, and platforms for sex worker voices. Local support services like The Corner House advocate for their clients’ rights and needs within the existing legal framework, pushing for harm reduction approaches and access to services without judgment.