Understanding Sex Work in Portsmouth: A Realistic Guide

Portsmouth, a major port city with a significant naval presence, has a complex and long-standing relationship with the sex industry. This guide provides factual information about sex work locally, focusing on legal realities, safety considerations, available support services, and the broader societal context. We approach this sensitive topic with respect for the individuals involved and a commitment to harm reduction.

Is prostitution legal in Portsmouth?

Prostitution itself (the exchange of sexual services for money) is legal in the UK, but nearly all surrounding activities are criminalised. This creates a challenging environment for sex workers. While two consenting adults agreeing to a sexual transaction isn’t illegal, soliciting in public places, kerb-crawling, operating a brothel (where more than one person works), pimping, and controlling prostitution for gain are all criminal offences under laws like the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and the Street Offences Act 1959. Portsmouth police enforce these laws, particularly focusing on street-based sex work in areas known for solicitation.

This legal grey area forces most sex work underground. Workers often operate alone for safety but face isolation, making them more vulnerable. Enforcement priorities can shift, sometimes focusing more on clients (“kerb-crawlers”) or on disrupting visible street solicitation in residential areas. The legal ambiguity does little to protect workers or address exploitation.

Where does street solicitation typically occur in Portsmouth?

Street-based sex work in Portsmouth has historically been concentrated in specific areas, often near the dockyards or industrial estates. Areas like parts of Somers Town, near Rudmore Roundabout, or certain stretches of Commercial Road and its side streets have been associated with this activity. These locations are often chosen for relative seclusion, ease of access, and proximity to potential clientele, but they also present significant safety risks due to poor lighting and isolation.

It’s crucial to understand these areas are also residential and industrial. Residents often report concerns about discarded needles, condoms, noise disturbances, and feeling unsafe. Police operations, such as “Operation Octopod” in the past, have targeted these areas, aiming to reduce visible solicitation through enforcement and outreach. The visibility of street work fluctuates based on police activity, support service interventions, and broader economic factors.

What safety risks do sex workers in Portsmouth face?

Sex workers, particularly those working on the street or in isolated situations, face disproportionately high risks of violence, sexual assault, robbery, and exploitation. Working alone to avoid brothel-keeping laws increases vulnerability. The need to screen clients quickly in potentially dangerous locations is a constant challenge. Stigma prevents many from reporting crimes to the police for fear of not being believed, facing judgment, or being arrested themselves for related offences. Substance use issues, often linked to trauma or as a coping mechanism for the work, further compound health and safety risks.

Violence can come from clients, opportunistic criminals, or even partners. The murder of sex workers, though rare, is a tragic reality that highlights the extreme dangers. More common are incidents of assault, rape, and theft. Fear of these incidents is a daily part of life for many street-based workers. Moving indoors (e.g., working from home or in a managed premises) generally reduces but doesn’t eliminate these risks.

How can sex workers stay safer?

Practical safety measures include working indoors whenever possible, using buddy systems to check in, thoroughly screening clients, and trusting instincts. Many support services offer safety planning advice. Resources like the National Ugly Mugs (NUM) scheme allow workers to anonymously report violent or dangerous clients and receive alerts about known risks. While not risk-free, these strategies can mitigate some dangers. Avoiding working while heavily intoxicated is also critical for maintaining awareness and control.

Sharing information within networks, even informally, about bad dates (clients) is a vital community-based safety practice. Some outreach services provide panic alarms or safety apps. The fundamental solution, however, lies in decriminalisation and creating an environment where workers feel safe to report crimes without fear of prosecution themselves.

Where can sex workers access health services in Portsmouth?

Portsmouth offers dedicated sexual health services that are accessible and non-judgmental towards sex workers. The main provider is Umbrella Sexual Health, part of the Solent NHS Trust. They provide comprehensive STI testing and treatment, contraception (including PrEP for HIV prevention), hepatitis vaccinations, and support around sexual health concerns. Services are confidential, and many clinics operate on a walk-in basis.

Beyond Umbrella, the local Drug and Alcohol service (With You – formerly Addaction Portsmouth) provides support for substance use issues, which can be a significant co-factor for some sex workers. Needle exchange programs are available. The Queen Alexandra Hospital A&E is the point of contact for urgent medical needs or after an assault, though the experience there can vary depending on staff attitudes.

Is there specific support for sex workers’ health?

Specialist outreach services, like those historically provided by the STAR Project (Support, Treatment, Advocacy, Recovery), offer targeted health support and harm reduction directly to sex workers. While funding for dedicated sex worker outreach projects fluctuates, STAR (or similar services operating under different names/budgets) often provides outreach nurses who can meet workers where they are (on the street or in drop-ins), offer immediate health checks, provide condoms and lubricant, facilitate access to mainstream services like Umbrella, and offer support for substance misuse. Building trust is key to their work.

These services understand the specific health risks associated with sex work, including higher exposure to STIs, risks of blood-borne viruses, and the impact of violence. They provide non-coercive support focused on the worker’s own goals, whether that’s improving health, exiting the industry, or managing risks while continuing to work.

What support exists for sex workers wanting to leave the industry?

Exiting sex work is complex and requires holistic support addressing housing, finances, trauma, addiction, and employment. While Portsmouth lacks a single dedicated “exit” service, support is available through various channels. The local authority’s Adult Social Care department may assist those assessed as vulnerable. Specialist domestic abuse services like Stop Domestic Abuse are crucial, as exploitation and coercion are common push factors into sex work.

Organizations like Two Saints provide housing support and homelessness services, a critical need for those exiting. Employment support via the Jobcentre Plus or local training providers is essential for financial stability. Mental health support through the NHS IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) service or charities like Mind is vital for addressing underlying trauma. The key is coordinated support across these areas, which projects like STAR often help facilitate.

How does the local community and police respond?

Community responses are mixed, ranging from concern and support for vulnerable individuals to frustration and demands for enforcement due to visible street sex work and associated issues. Residents in affected areas often report nuisance (noise, litter, used condoms/needles) and feeling intimidated. This leads to pressure on police and the council (Portsmouth City Council) to “clean up” areas, typically through increased policing targeting soliciting and kerb-crawling.

The Hampshire Constabulary’s approach aims to balance community concerns with a recognition that many sex workers are vulnerable. They often work in partnership with outreach services (like STAR) under a “diversion” model, aiming to connect individuals with support rather than solely criminalising them. Operations may target exploitative individuals (pimps, traffickers) or dangerous clients. However, the fundamental tension between enforcement and harm reduction remains.

What’s the debate around legalisation or decriminalisation?

There’s an ongoing debate about whether the current legal model protects sex workers or increases harm, with many advocates calling for full decriminalisation based on the New Zealand model. Decriminalisation (removing criminal penalties for consensual adult sex work) is supported by major health organizations like the World Health Organization and Amnesty International, as well as sex worker-led groups like the English Collective of Prostitutes. They argue it would allow workers to operate more safely, report crimes without fear, access labour rights, and reduce stigma and exploitation.

Opponents, often from abolitionist feminist perspectives, argue that all prostitution is inherently exploitative and violence against women, advocating instead for the “Nordic Model” (criminalising clients but not the sellers). They believe this reduces demand. Locally in Portsmouth, this debate influences policy discussions around policing priorities and funding for support services, though significant legal change would require national legislation.

What resources are available for clients or the public?

Information for clients is limited and often focused on the legal risks (kerb-crawling offences) or health messages (use condoms). Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire Constabulary sometimes run awareness campaigns highlighting that paying for sex with someone who is controlled for gain (pimped) or trafficked is a crime under the Policing and Crime Act 2009, carrying a potential 7-year sentence. Public health messages emphasize STI prevention.

For the public concerned about street sex work in their neighbourhood, the primary route is reporting nuisance or criminal activity to the police (101 non-emergency) or the council. Understanding the complex vulnerabilities that often lead people into sex work can foster more compassionate community responses. Information about local support services (like STAR or Umbrella) can sometimes be found via the council website or local health services.