Sex work and hate crime: developing innovative research, policy & practice
Lead Research Organisation:
University of York
Department Name: Social Policy Social Work
Abstract
This fellowship builds on my PhD study, the first to examine the innovative approach adopted by Merseyside Police of treating crimes against sex workers as hate crime (Campbell, 2017). This approach led to significant increase in crime reporting and a unprecedented number of prosecutions for crimes against sex workers, it was identified as a model of good practice by the Home Office. I was involved in the development of the approach, as Coordinator of a sex work support project in Merseyside. The research was the first to detail the conceptual and empirical case that crimes against sex workers could be understood as hate crime, and that treating crimes against sex workers as hate crime can have many practical benefits for sex workers and wider society. It also highlighted that whilst the hate crime approach was progressive, sex workers had not been fully integrated into hate crime polices and practices, and elements that made up the hate crime approach were at risk of being eroded.
The multiple policy impacts of my research to date are highlighted by it informing National Police Chiefs Council guidance on prostitution and national hate crime guidance, which reasserted that forces can include victim groups outside monitored strands, with Merseysides' inclusion of sex workers as an example. Findings from the research informed a successful application for funding to support sex worker victims of crime in Merseyside.Funding was awarded to the Office of Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner for this initiative to improve the safety of sex workers 'the Red Umbrella Project'. This includes amongst other provisions the reintroduction of a specialist sex work Independent Sexual Violence Advisor post, identified by the research as a critical element of the hate crime approach. Selected findings from the research have been published in two book chapters (Campbell 2014a & 2018), but these significant findings for academic scholarship, policy and practice have not been published more widely. Also research on sex work and hate crime is underdeveloped internationally. The three overarching aims of this fellowship are;
1. To produce the highest quality publications on sex work and hate crime, contributing to original academic scholarship & knowledge which have policy relevance.
2. Develop the investigator's research leadership skills, including developing a research grant application as Principal Investigator for a study which will explore a wider diversity of sex workers' experiences of hate crime and expand empirical and theoretical knowledge in this area.
3.To enable the fellow to carry out further policy and practice impact work at local and national level with non-academic stakeholders, to enable the research to directly support the further development of hate crime policy on sex work in Merseyside (further integrating sex workers into hate crime procedures/polices) and in the UK.
I am well placed to carry out this work, with a track record of contributing to the development of sex work policy nationally and in several cities via my work as a practitioner and manager within support services for sex workers. Impact and engagement is at the heart of this post doctoral project. Some examples of the key activities to be carried out as part of this fellowship are; production of a sole-authored book (the first globally on 'Sex work and hate crime), developing a research proposal for a multi sited study of sex work and hate crime which encompasses the full diversity of the sex industry, working with Merseyside Police, the Red Umbrella Project and a sex worker group to develop ways of raising awareness about the approach amongst sex workers in Merseyside and sharing learning through networks nationally about the hate crime approach (including with police forces).
The multiple policy impacts of my research to date are highlighted by it informing National Police Chiefs Council guidance on prostitution and national hate crime guidance, which reasserted that forces can include victim groups outside monitored strands, with Merseysides' inclusion of sex workers as an example. Findings from the research informed a successful application for funding to support sex worker victims of crime in Merseyside.Funding was awarded to the Office of Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner for this initiative to improve the safety of sex workers 'the Red Umbrella Project'. This includes amongst other provisions the reintroduction of a specialist sex work Independent Sexual Violence Advisor post, identified by the research as a critical element of the hate crime approach. Selected findings from the research have been published in two book chapters (Campbell 2014a & 2018), but these significant findings for academic scholarship, policy and practice have not been published more widely. Also research on sex work and hate crime is underdeveloped internationally. The three overarching aims of this fellowship are;
1. To produce the highest quality publications on sex work and hate crime, contributing to original academic scholarship & knowledge which have policy relevance.
2. Develop the investigator's research leadership skills, including developing a research grant application as Principal Investigator for a study which will explore a wider diversity of sex workers' experiences of hate crime and expand empirical and theoretical knowledge in this area.
3.To enable the fellow to carry out further policy and practice impact work at local and national level with non-academic stakeholders, to enable the research to directly support the further development of hate crime policy on sex work in Merseyside (further integrating sex workers into hate crime procedures/polices) and in the UK.
I am well placed to carry out this work, with a track record of contributing to the development of sex work policy nationally and in several cities via my work as a practitioner and manager within support services for sex workers. Impact and engagement is at the heart of this post doctoral project. Some examples of the key activities to be carried out as part of this fellowship are; production of a sole-authored book (the first globally on 'Sex work and hate crime), developing a research proposal for a multi sited study of sex work and hate crime which encompasses the full diversity of the sex industry, working with Merseyside Police, the Red Umbrella Project and a sex worker group to develop ways of raising awareness about the approach amongst sex workers in Merseyside and sharing learning through networks nationally about the hate crime approach (including with police forces).
People |
ORCID iD |
| Rosie Campbell (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Campbell R
(2020)
Not collateral damage: Trends in violence and hate crimes experienced by sex workers in the Republic of Ireland
in Irish Journal of Sociology
Campbell, R
(2021)
Sex work and hate crime: innovating policy, practice and theory
| Description | The most significant achievements from the award were; 1. Two further police forces adopted the policy of including sex workers in their hate crime policy, the researcher worked closely with one of these North Yorkshire 2. This award produced social media resources for an online campaign to raise awareness about the crimes against sex workers being treated as hate crime in Merseyside amongst sex workers and the general public. 3. The award activities feed directly into national policy development through the involvement of the Law Commission in knowledge share events and the research fellow directly advising the commission as part of it's review of hate crime policy and law. 4. New knowledge about sex work and hate crime has been made available to academics throughout the world in via the publication 'Sex work and hate crime: innovating practice, policy and theory', this is the first book globally to focus on sex work and hate crime. The objectives were met. A high quality publications on sex work and hate crime was produced and has made a contributing to original academic scholarship but also has policy relevance. The fellow carried out further policy and practice impact work at local and national level with non-academic stakeholders, to enable the research to directly support the further development of hate crime policy on sex work in Merseyside where sex workers were further integrated into policing and multi-agency hate crime policies and procedures in Merseyside and the award led to increased knowledge and awareness about the approach of treating crimes against sex workers as hate crime amongst practitioners, policy makers and sex workers nationally. The fellow delivered a number of events, promotional campaigns and training to support this. At national level the fello contributed to the law commissions review of hate crime law and practice and shared practice findings with police officers via the National Police Chiefs Council. Findings can (and in some cases have been) taken forward by police forces and multi agency partnership forums at a local level and were directly incorporated into a chapter of a review document produced by the Law commission which was published by them as a national consultation report. |
| Exploitation Route | Researchers and practitioners working around the inclusion of non monitored hate crime groups in hate crime policy and practice will be interested in the findings from my research. They could use these to make changes to policy and changes in process and procedure. Other police forces have adopted the policy with input from award activity. Police forces and community safety partnerships could use the briefing produces and Facebook and Twitter resources to inform future work in include other communities in hate crime policy. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice,Security and Diplomacy |
| Description | *Findings have be used directly by a number of police forces who themselves in 2019 adopted the policy of treating crimes against sex workers as hate crimes. *Findings/post doctoral activity has lead to increased awareness and understanding of the sex work and hate crime approach amongst policy makers and practitioners in the UK- this has been achieved through the production of breifings, delivery of training/professional development, participation in events and conferences to share learning and participation in the ongoing Law Commission review of hate crime policy and practice. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Government, Democracy and Justice,Security and Diplomacy |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | Influenced Cambridgeshire policing policy and practice |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | Sex workers have been included in Cambridgeshire's Hate Crime Policy and Procedure leading to increased awareness about needs of sex worker victims of crime and improved police response to sex workers reports of victimisation. |
| Description | Influenced Law Commission review of hate crime law and policy |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Influenced North Yorkshire Police Force policy on hate crime and sex work |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | North Yorkshire Police Force have included sex workers in their hate crime policy and procedures leading to improved responses to the reporting of crimes committed against sex workers |
| URL | https://northyorkshire.police.uk/what-we-do/tackling-crime/crimes-against-the-person/hate-crime/crim... |
| Description | Participation in National Police Chiefs Council National Group On Sex Work/Prostitution-advisory input on new NPCC National Policing Sex Work and Prostitution Guidance - includes treating crimes against sex workers as hate crime |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | http://library.college.police.uk/docs/appref/Sex-Work-and-Prostitution-Guidance-Jan-2019.pdf |
| Description | Training delivered at National Police Chief Council's 'Annual Sex Work/Prostitution strategic Single Points of Contact Training Day' |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Training for Merseyside Practitioners- direct provision of training to Red Umbrella initiative staff and volunteers & contribution to update of content for police training on sex work |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | RU providers have introduced new service delivery approaches to make their services more accessible to sex workers in the online sector it is too early to evidence that this has increased accessibility for this sector. To early to assess impact of new training content on police. |
| Description | University of York ESRC Impact Acceleration Account |
| Amount | £808 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of York |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2019 |
| End | 03/2019 |
| Description | Collaborating with University of Otago, New Zealand and University of Leicester on a funding bid |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Department | Department of Criminology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I contributed to writing a research bid for funding from a New Zealand based foundation The Marsden Fund for a comparative two country study of sex worker hate crime victimisation. I provided expert input re sex work and hate crime and the UK policing and hate crime landscape. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Professor Gillian Abel led on coordinating an application to a New Zealand based research fund, The Marsden Fund for a comparative two country study of sex worker hate crime victimisation. She provided expertise on the sex work and policing landscape in New Zealand. Professor Sanders, University of Leicester contributed expertise on national large scale studies of sex work in the UK. |
| Impact | We were infomred in November 2019 that we were not successful in the application but continue to try to identify appropriate funding sources. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Collaborating with University of Otago, New Zealand and University of Leicester on a funding bid |
| Organisation | University of Otago |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I contributed to writing a research bid for funding from a New Zealand based foundation The Marsden Fund for a comparative two country study of sex worker hate crime victimisation. I provided expert input re sex work and hate crime and the UK policing and hate crime landscape. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Professor Gillian Abel led on coordinating an application to a New Zealand based research fund, The Marsden Fund for a comparative two country study of sex worker hate crime victimisation. She provided expertise on the sex work and policing landscape in New Zealand. Professor Sanders, University of Leicester contributed expertise on national large scale studies of sex work in the UK. |
| Impact | We were infomred in November 2019 that we were not successful in the application but continue to try to identify appropriate funding sources. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Working with Merseyside Police |
| Organisation | Merseyside Police Service |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | a. The postdoctoral research fellow supported Merseyside Police in updating training resources and delivering training and professional development events for Merseyside Police Officers b. The Postdoctoral research fellow had an active role in sharing learning about Merseyside's sex work and hate crime approach with practitioners and policy makers in the UK, Ireland and Norway. This included arranging meetings with other police forces. c. The postdoctoral research fellow funded the design of online promotional material for use by Merseyside Police and carried out consultation with sex workers in Merseyside to inform the development of this online promotional campaign material. d. The postdoctoral research fellow documented the innovative work of Merseyside Policy through presentations at events, conferences, journal articles and a book on sex work and hate crime which is still ongoing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Merseyside Police have contributed to this collaboration in the following key ways to date; a. Merseyside Police have provided expert advice regarding good practice for reporting crimes by sex workers, investigating crimes against sex workers (including treating crimes against sex workers as hate crime) to inform the development of briefings about the project and wider knowledge exchange including one to one meetings with other police force areas outside of Merseyside. b. Input into planning and delivery of joint presentations and training for practitioners/policy makers nationally and internationally supporting knowledge interchange c. Working with the postdoctoral research fellow in the co-design of an online promotional campaign to raise awareness about the hate crime approach amongst online sex workers. |
| Impact | a. The postdoctoral researcher jointly with Merseyside Police strategic lead for sex work delivered training to single point of contact officers for sex work from all forces in England and Wales through the annual training event held by the National police chiefs Council Lead for sex work. b. The postdoctoral research fellow and the Merseyside Police Sex work liaison officer provided guidance and advice to several police forces considering adopting the approach of treating crimes against sex workers as hate crime. c. Merseyside Police force supported the post doctoral research fellow in organizing and hosting an practice and police knowledge share event attended by local and national policy makers and practitioners in September 2019. d. An online promotional campaign was launched in October 2019 during national hate crime week and continued around 17th December (International Day to end Violence Against Sex workers), this aimed to raise awareness about the hate crime approach to online sex workers and about options for reporting. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Working with Red Umbrella |
| Organisation | Merseyside Police Service |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The Red Umbrella initiative is a collaboration between Merseyside Police and the third sector charity Changing Lives, funded by the Home Office Violence Against Women and Girls Service Transformation Fund, commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside. It aims to provide a victim-focused service for sex workers who are victims of crime, or at risk of sexual or domestic violence and abuse, exploitation or human trafficking. Changing Lives are delivering a sex work outreach and support project 'Red Umbrella Changing Lives', based in Liverpool, but providing services for sex workers throughout Merseyside. As part of this initiative Merseyside are refreshing their approach of including sex workers in their hate crime policy and have re introduced the role of Police Sex Work Liaison Officer. I have partnered with Red Umbrella initiative, the contributions I have made to date include; a.Providing training for staff and volunteers at the the Red Umbrella Project (CL) e.g about changes in crimes against sex workers and safety issues with the growth of online sex work and implications for service delivery models including netreach models. b. Providing bespoke advisory input and training to the police sex work liaison officer about research findings on crimes against sex workers, reporting of crime by sex worker and attitudes and relationship with police, safety strategies, and policing approaches to crimes against sex workers in other police force areas. c. Advising on the review and redesign of training content about sex work for student officers in Merseyside. d. Supporting training and other events hosted by the RU initiative to increase knowledge about the Red Umbrella project, the police Sex Work Liaison Officer role and wider hate crime approach to crimes against sex workers in Mersesyside in designed to shape practice of a range of local third sector, statutory organisations in Merseyside. e. Facilitating, arranging and contributing as an expert advisor (alongside RU CL and or Merseyside Police) to meetings, events, training with policy makers and practitioners in other parts of the UK and internationally) who wish to learn about and adopt elements of hate crime approach in Merseyside. For example advising on support elements delivered by Red Umbrella Changing Lives such as The specialist independent Sexual Violence Adviser Role for sex workers and the Merseyside ugly mugs scheme (linked to National Ugly Mugs- national third party crime reporting scheme for sex workers). Sharing learning and practice with other police forces about Merseyside Police's procedures for the inclusion of sex workers in their hate crime systems and advising re police sex work liaison provisions. The Post Doctoral Research Fellow and Merseyside Police provided information about the approach to National Police Chief Councils (NPCC) national working group on Prostitution/sex work and jointly provided input about the approach at the Annual Sex Work/Prostitution Single Points of Contact Training Day f. Provision of expert advise regarding research and evaluation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Red Umbrella (Changing Lives) have contributed to this collaboration in the following key ways to date; a. Red Umbrella Changes Lives have provided access to office space when the Post Doctoral Fellow is in Merseyside carrying out impact work. b. Red Umbrella Changing Lives have provided their expertise in community engagement and established networks within the sex work community in Merseyside to enable the consultative and community advisory elements of the project which are ongoing, this includes input from the RU CL peer advisory group. c. Red Umbrella Changing Lives and Merseyside Police have provided expert advice regarding good practice for reporting crimes by sex workers, investigating supporting sex worker victims of crime (including treating crimes against sex workers as hate crime) to inform the development of briefings about the project and wider knowledge exchange including one to one meetings with other police for areas, projects and policy makers outside of Merseyside. d. Input into planning and delivery of joint presentations/advisory meetings for practitioners/policy makers in Merseyside, nationally and internationally supporting knowledge interchange and contributing to policy. e. Providing monitoring data about project activity and outcomes to inform resources and presentation. |
| Impact | Key output/outcomes from this collaboration to date have been; *Staff and volunteers of Red Umbrella Changing Lives and the Police Sex Work Liaison Officer received training update about latest research looking at crimes against sex workers and safety strategies, including for online sex workers. *Red Umbrella Changing Lives and Police Sex Work Liaison Officer introduced new approaches to promoting their service to online sex workers. *Production of a updated training package for Merseyside Police officers related to sex work. *Over 40 single points of contact (SPOC's) for sex work from all police forces across England received direct input, at the NPCC Annual Sex Work/Prostitution SPOC Training Day, about the approach of treating crimes against sex workers as hate crime. *Approach of treating crimes against sex workers in Merseyside was included again in the new National Police Chiefs Council Guidance on Sex Work/Prostitution published January 2019. *Post doctoral research fellow and Red Umbrella CL shared practice with sex work practitioners, advocates and policy makers in Norway. *Post doctoral research fellow and Red Umbrella CL shared practice with practitioners, advocates and policy makers in the Republic of Ireland. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Working with Red Umbrella |
| Organisation | Red Umbrella Fund |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The Red Umbrella initiative is a collaboration between Merseyside Police and the third sector charity Changing Lives, funded by the Home Office Violence Against Women and Girls Service Transformation Fund, commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside. It aims to provide a victim-focused service for sex workers who are victims of crime, or at risk of sexual or domestic violence and abuse, exploitation or human trafficking. Changing Lives are delivering a sex work outreach and support project 'Red Umbrella Changing Lives', based in Liverpool, but providing services for sex workers throughout Merseyside. As part of this initiative Merseyside are refreshing their approach of including sex workers in their hate crime policy and have re introduced the role of Police Sex Work Liaison Officer. I have partnered with Red Umbrella initiative, the contributions I have made to date include; a.Providing training for staff and volunteers at the the Red Umbrella Project (CL) e.g about changes in crimes against sex workers and safety issues with the growth of online sex work and implications for service delivery models including netreach models. b. Providing bespoke advisory input and training to the police sex work liaison officer about research findings on crimes against sex workers, reporting of crime by sex worker and attitudes and relationship with police, safety strategies, and policing approaches to crimes against sex workers in other police force areas. c. Advising on the review and redesign of training content about sex work for student officers in Merseyside. d. Supporting training and other events hosted by the RU initiative to increase knowledge about the Red Umbrella project, the police Sex Work Liaison Officer role and wider hate crime approach to crimes against sex workers in Mersesyside in designed to shape practice of a range of local third sector, statutory organisations in Merseyside. e. Facilitating, arranging and contributing as an expert advisor (alongside RU CL and or Merseyside Police) to meetings, events, training with policy makers and practitioners in other parts of the UK and internationally) who wish to learn about and adopt elements of hate crime approach in Merseyside. For example advising on support elements delivered by Red Umbrella Changing Lives such as The specialist independent Sexual Violence Adviser Role for sex workers and the Merseyside ugly mugs scheme (linked to National Ugly Mugs- national third party crime reporting scheme for sex workers). Sharing learning and practice with other police forces about Merseyside Police's procedures for the inclusion of sex workers in their hate crime systems and advising re police sex work liaison provisions. The Post Doctoral Research Fellow and Merseyside Police provided information about the approach to National Police Chief Councils (NPCC) national working group on Prostitution/sex work and jointly provided input about the approach at the Annual Sex Work/Prostitution Single Points of Contact Training Day f. Provision of expert advise regarding research and evaluation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Red Umbrella (Changing Lives) have contributed to this collaboration in the following key ways to date; a. Red Umbrella Changes Lives have provided access to office space when the Post Doctoral Fellow is in Merseyside carrying out impact work. b. Red Umbrella Changing Lives have provided their expertise in community engagement and established networks within the sex work community in Merseyside to enable the consultative and community advisory elements of the project which are ongoing, this includes input from the RU CL peer advisory group. c. Red Umbrella Changing Lives and Merseyside Police have provided expert advice regarding good practice for reporting crimes by sex workers, investigating supporting sex worker victims of crime (including treating crimes against sex workers as hate crime) to inform the development of briefings about the project and wider knowledge exchange including one to one meetings with other police for areas, projects and policy makers outside of Merseyside. d. Input into planning and delivery of joint presentations/advisory meetings for practitioners/policy makers in Merseyside, nationally and internationally supporting knowledge interchange and contributing to policy. e. Providing monitoring data about project activity and outcomes to inform resources and presentation. |
| Impact | Key output/outcomes from this collaboration to date have been; *Staff and volunteers of Red Umbrella Changing Lives and the Police Sex Work Liaison Officer received training update about latest research looking at crimes against sex workers and safety strategies, including for online sex workers. *Red Umbrella Changing Lives and Police Sex Work Liaison Officer introduced new approaches to promoting their service to online sex workers. *Production of a updated training package for Merseyside Police officers related to sex work. *Over 40 single points of contact (SPOC's) for sex work from all police forces across England received direct input, at the NPCC Annual Sex Work/Prostitution SPOC Training Day, about the approach of treating crimes against sex workers as hate crime. *Approach of treating crimes against sex workers in Merseyside was included again in the new National Police Chiefs Council Guidance on Sex Work/Prostitution published January 2019. *Post doctoral research fellow and Red Umbrella CL shared practice with sex work practitioners, advocates and policy makers in Norway. *Post doctoral research fellow and Red Umbrella CL shared practice with practitioners, advocates and policy makers in the Republic of Ireland. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Blog- Rubbishing Sex Workers the Dangers of Discarding Sex Worker Safety |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The post-doctoral research fellow was lead author of a blog published on a much read blog site of the the co-author, this addressed hate crimes against sex workers, 'othering' of sex workers and anti prostitution residential actions, in the context of sex work policy in the city of Leeds, UK. The blog was widely read having been promoted via the co-authors Twittter feed 'Whores of Yore' https://twitter.com/whoresofyore?lang=en which has over 200,000 followers. Following this numerous requests were received for further information and publications. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.thewhoresofyore.com/sex-worker-voices/rubbishing-sex-workers-the-danger-of-discarding-se... |
| Description | International Conference Presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I presented a paper 'Marginality, criminalisation, sex work & hate crime' . This was presented within the hate crime stream (organised by the British Hate Crime Network) of the British Society of Criminology Conference (4th July 2019 University of Lincoln) specifically to raise awareness amongst hate crime scholars about the inclusion of sex workers in hate crime debates and policy. Approx 20 academics attended from a range of institutions internationally. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers- event in Merseyside |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I presented about the Merseyside Hate crime approach at an event to mark 17th December International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers which was hosted by Red Umbrella Changing Lives and Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside. The event aimed to remember those sex workers who have been victims of crime in Merseyside and also to raise awareness about the Red Umbrella initiative and Merseyside Police forces approach of including crimes against sex workers in hate crime procedures, amongst practitioners in Merseyside from statutory and third sector agencies and the sex work community. Approximately 45 people attended, following this event Red Umbrella project reported increased requests for information about their service. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Irish Research Network Workshop- Advancing Social Justice for Sex Workers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The post doctoral research fellow was invited by the Irish Research Network to take part on a workshop on sex work and social justice for sex work bringing together; academic researchers, sex worker organisations health and social care support organisations from throughout the Ireland of Ireland to share current research and identify prioritises for researchers. There was also representation from the UK Sex Work Research Hub. The post doctoral fellow was invited to facilitate a working group on sex work and violence with the group which identified key prioritize for research, practice and policy. Hate crime emerged as a key theme with Irish researchers and practitioner keen to learn more about the hate crime approach and consider it as a policy for the Republic of Ireland. This lead to the post doc fellow being invited to visit Dublin to discuss the approach, they have lead on organizing this and widening it to colleagues from Merseyside Police and Red Umbrella Project, which will take place later in 2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Knowledge exchange with Cardiff Sex Work Forum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | To share learning with the Cardiff Sex Work Forum coordinated by Cardiff City Council about crimes against sex workers, reporting, the Merseyside Hate Crime Approach and speciifc issues for online sex workers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | National knowledge & practice sharing event - Treating crimes against sex workers as hate crimes in Merseyside |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Approximately seventy delegates attended a practice and knowledge share event organised by the postdoctoral research fellow (University of York) in partnership with Red Umbrella Changing Lives, Merseyside Police and The university of Leicester. The event whihc took place in Liverpool aimed to; Provide an update on the work to include sex workers in police hate crime policy in Merseyside for local practitioners. Share information and learning from Merseyside's approach of including sex workers in police hate crime policy in Merseyside. Seventy delegates drawn from local and national practitioners (policing, NHS and third sector support projects), policy makers and academic researchers attended, this included participation from a representative of the Law Commission Review of Hate crime, who attended to present about their review which includes considering changing law and policy to include groups beyond the monitored strands. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | North East Sex Work Forum-Annual Regional Learning Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Approximately 100 delegates from throughout the North East Region attended the regional learning day which aims to update participants in new research and good practice in relation to sex work, the post doctoral research shared information and learning from the hate crime approach in Merseyside, and also particular issues for online sex workers related to crime and reporting, there was considerable discussion amongst and questions from participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | North Yorkshire Police - |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Provision of expert advice to the North Yorkshire Police strategic single point of contact for sex work and newly appointed police sex work liaison officer (PSWLO) with the purpose of identifying ways NYP Police could improve it's approach to building trust amongts sex workers in North Yorkshire and increase reporting informed by Merseyside Hate Crime Approach. North Yorkshire Police reported that they had changed intelligence practices after this input with the PSWLO, reflecting elements of practice in Merseyside. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| Description | Norway sex work and hate crime seminar and coalition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | PION (Prostitutes Interest Organisation Norway) invited the post doctoral research fellow to take part in a seminar, influenced by published work from the post doc they had in 2018 made a submission to a national Norwegian review of hate crime policy, framing crimes against sex workers as hate crime influenced by the post doctoral fellows research and the practice work in Merseyside. Pion wanted to consider whether they should further develop their advocacy work around sex work and and wanted to start a discussion amongst sex worker activists, national policy makers, the police, practitioners in health, social care and non-governmental organisations as part of this they wanted to learn more about the Merseyside approach and research reflections on this. Hence the post doc was invited to give the key note at a public seminar organised by Pion, this took place in February 2019 in OSLO and was attended by approximately 50 delegates drawn from across the target stakeholders, the seminar prompted in-depth discussions about the advantages and disadvantages of including sex workers as a hate crime group in law and policy. At the end of discussions there was majority support amongst the organisations present including national human rights organisations and NGO's working with recognized hate crime groups, that sex workers experienced hate crime and their were benefits to inclusion in hate crime policy and practice the and multi agency coalition to advocate for this was strengthened. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.pion-norge.no/aktuelt/sexarbeid-og-hatkriminalitet-fra-bekjempelse-til-beskyttelse/ |
| Description | Participation in Launch Event-Stay Safe Work Wise- Republic of Ireland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The postdoctoral researcher jointly presented with the Service Lead from Red Umbrella at an event in Dublin 7th June 2019, to launch Chrysalis's web based platform 'Staysafe work wise' for sex workers in Ireland. They were invited to share good practice from Merseyside because crimes against sex workers in Ireland are severely under-reported to the police. The organizers wanted delegates to learn about an approach which had lead to increase in levels of reporting of crimes by sex workers and hence invited the post doctoral research fellow. Over fifty delegates attended drawn from; sex work support projects, human rights organisations, sex workers rights organisations, Garda Síochána, and academics from across Ireland. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Sex work & hate crime knowledge share event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Organised a knowledge and practice learning share seminar on sex work and hate crime with Merseyside Police and Red Umbrella Project, this took place on 17th September 2019 in Liverpool, over 50 delegates attended, including the Law Commission, who said the post doc activity had put sex work on the radar for them. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |