Government launches anti-violence campaign for prostitutes

A new campaign aimed at giving prostitutes the means to report sexual and violent crimes confidentially has been launched by the government.

The Crimestoppers 'Stop' campaign, funded by the Home Office, and supported by the police and the specialist projects working with women and men involved in prostitution, aims to encourage those in the sex industry to report crimes to Crimestoppers.

The information would then be passed to the police and also shared with others at risk in the area.

The Home Office said that prostitutes and other people working in the sex industry are more likely to be the victims of abuse, attacks and robbery, but are often reluctant to come forward and report them.

Home Office Minster Gerry Sutcliffe said: "We will not eradicate prostitution overnight and in the meantime we must take action to improve protection for anyone involved in this exploitative industry.

"We must ensure that victims' interests and needs are put at the heart of the criminal justice system, and although we want people to have the confidence to report all crimes to the police, this joint initiative means that those involved in prostitution can anonymously pass on vital information to help bring offenders to justice and to reduce the risks to others on the street."

The £20,000 campaign is part of the government's strategy to address problems associated with prostitution, which aims to bring individuals who exploit people involved in prostitution to justice, stop people from becoming involved in prostitution and help those already involved, as well as stem demand.

The campaign is based on the 'ugly mugs' schemes, where those involved in prostitution share information about violent men through local specialist support services.

Commenting on the campaign, Dave Cording, Crimestoppers' Director of Operations, said: "Unfortunately many of the people involved in prostitution will know about violent attacks, abuse and other crimes committed against them, or someone they know. In calling Crimestoppers they can provide valuable information that will not only help to prevent repeat incidents, but also stop attacks on other women or men."

Leaflets and posters highlighting Crimestoppers' anonymous helpline and the importance of sharing information will be distributed to specialist support services in England and Wales.

Those involved in prostitution will also be given stickers for the soles of their shoes with the Crimestoppers confidential number - 0800 555 111 - which they can use to report criminals.

(KMcA)