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Crime against sex workers
in Ireland
16th October 2014, University of Limerick, Ireland
Selling Sex: politics, activism & lived experience
Irish sex worker safety scheme
The Internet
Irish sex worker safety scheme
Access restricted to sex workers
only
Available to all sex workers
Free web-based
service
Warning is then issued to
all sex workers.
Sex worker
reports incident to us.
How it works
Database
16 languages
Discussion forums
and chat rooms
Number check
Highlighted warning lists
By SMS
service
Auto-linking of
related reports
Search/browse
warnings &
offenders
Support/referrals
Features
Android mobile app
Screens incoming/outgoing calls &
SMS
Warns if there are
warning(s) for a number
Successful scheme for sex workers
Provides sex
workers with
information that
greatly improves
their safety
Enables sex
workers to be
aware both of
offenders and
offending trends
UglyMugs.ie
is highly used
by sex workers.
5,695 incidents reported
2,233 crime incidents3,462 non crime incidents
5 year stats
Types of crime
Threatening
communications
In-person
threatening
behaviour
Assault
Sexual
assaultRobbery
Fraud
Exploit-
ation
Harass-
ment
Impers-
onating
police
Vand-
alism
Illegal
requests
/ offers
Types of crime
Threatening
communications
In-person
threatening
behaviour
Assault
Sexual
assaultRobbery
Fraud
Exploit-
ation
Harass-
ment
Impers-
onating
police
Vand-
alism
Illegal
requests
/ offers
Exploitation
39
108
10
20
40
60
80
100
120
Employer / Manager Landlord / Hotel Staff Other
Crime against sex workers is underreported
Republic of Ireland
3.3%Reporting Rate
All Ireland
3.5%Reporting Rate
Northern Ireland
5.2%Reporting Rate
Crime Rising
214 221
365 355
393
452
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
Pre Year 1 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
Reporting Crime Falling
7.00%
7.70%
3.00%
2.30%2.00%
1.50%
0.00%
1.00%
2.00%
3.00%
4.00%
5.00%
6.00%
7.00%
8.00%
9.00%
Pre Year 1 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
Sex workers are at a high risk of experiencing crime
Sex workers are at a
high risk of
experiencing crime
and abuse
Prostitution policy
puts sex workers at an
increased risk
Offenders
deliberately target
sex workers
Offender info can be shared with police
2 NUM Evaluation,
UKNSWP, August 2013
Database
of sex workers in England and Wales are happy to share info with police.292.3%
Police cooperation
UglyMugs.ie can
act as an
intermediary
between police
and sex workers
Provide guidance
to police on
working with sex
workers.
Assist police
investigations
into serious
crime.
Difficulties with police cooperation
Wish List
* Sex work liaison officers
* Prioritisation of sex worker safety
* Treat crime against sex workers as hate crime
* Publicly condemn crime against sex workers
* Reconsider police enforcement actions
* Adopt a clear policing strategy
Sex worker safety is not a policing priority
Not Interested Prepared to listen
Police Interest in Sex Worker Safety
TORL Membership in 2012 – 1.6 million
Adult population of Republic of Ireland - 3.4 million1
1 Census 2011
Sex trafficking is the only policing priority
Police exclusion of the sex work community in anti trafficking efforts
Anti sex
work & sex
trafficking
NGOs
ChurchesWomen’s
Groups
Airlines &
Hotel StaffTaxi Drivers Schools
Increased criminalisation of sex work
3 PSNI FOI Request Number F-
2014-00002, 5 February 2014
In Northern Ireland, arrests for prostitution
offences in 2012 were up 238% from 2007.3
Comparable figures for Republic of Ireland are
not available (the Gardaí are not subject to
FOI).
4 Turn Off the Blue Light, July 2011
95% of persons convicted of brothel keeping in the Republic of Ireland appear to be sex workers themselves & not controlling any other person.4
ROI population 4,588,252, NI
population 1,810,863 (Census 2011).
Crime rate here is the number of crime
incidents recorded per year per
100,000 population.
2000
Crime
incidents
233
Crime
incidents The rate of crime
against sex workers
in the Republic of
Ireland is 3.4 times
higher than in
Northern Ireland.5
Racism and/or xenophobia
Telling sex workers they are
pimped/trafficked
Threats to call police
What offenders say
Proposed new anti sex work laws
All Ireland
Criminalistion of purchase of sex between consenting adults
Republic of Ireland
Criminailisation of use of mobile
phones by sex workers
Criminalisation of viewing of sex
work websites
UK (Northern Ireland)
Statutory duty to report potential
trafficking
Great
community
of sex
workers
Sex workers
help each
other stay
safe
Hope for
improved
policing
Thank you.