Beyond the Gaze:The working practices, regulation and safety of Internet-based sex work in the UK

Lead Research Organisation: University of Leicester
Department Name: Criminology

Abstract

Technology, particularly digital communication, has had a profound impact on how we organise our lives, conduct our relationships and the transactions of commerce and retail. The sex industry has followed this trend, with the online sex markets expanding and diversifying, changing the shape of how sex is bought and sold. Yet no regulation and very little policing focuses on the Internet-based sex markets. Our overarching question is: How has the Internet shaped the 21st Century adult commercial sex industry in the UK and what is the role of regulation? Our research focuses on the gaps in knowledge, in terms of how the market is structured, how it functions and how it is currently regulated. We are concerned with those individuals who work legally in their own homes, or as escorts doing outcalls to hotels and clients' homes, all away from the ordinary gaze of policing. There has been no attention to the interactions between technology and types of commercial sex such as webcam sex; performing live sex acts and chat; sexual story telling; and how niche markets have developed both allowing sex workers to innovate as well as opening up working opportunities. Therefore our overall inquiry seeks to explain how regulation interacts with the Internet setting in relation to the experience of vulnerability and safety. Is working via the Internet safer for sex workers? Are there unintended safety issues? Are sex workers made more vulnerable by the isolation of the Internet or does technology provide mechanisms to enhance safety? Therefore the aims of this research are threefold: a)to understand the wider theoretical significance of new technologies for changing the social practice of sexual consumption and the sex industry. b) to map the trends and understand the working practices in Internet-based sex work markets within the broader processes of the regulation and policing of sex work in the UK. c) to facilitate the integration of Internet-based sex work into safety and health-related provision, policies and agencies.
We intend to answer these questions using a mixed methodology to gather new empirical knowledge, and have designed a project consisting of a large national online survey of sex workers; qualitative interviews with 80 sex workers and 40 interviews those involved in the policing and regulation of online sex work activities (such as the police, Home Office representative, IT specialists). Peer researchers will assist in the recruitment of participants, promoting the project as well as reviewing the progress of the Impact Plan. In addition, there is an integrated service provision and developmental role built into the project team through a Research, Support and Development Netreach Officer. Beyond the academy, the project has three key beneficiary groups who are collaborators on the project: 1) Police through the Association of Chief Police Officers and the National Lead for Prostitution, policy makers (local and national government. 2) Sex workers who work online and the broader sex work community. 3) sex work projects and practitioners who work with sex workers - both statutory and third sector, including sexual health practitioners who deliver specific clinical services to sex workers. These groups will benefit in the following ways: 1) a practitioner outreach service with sex workers (all genders) via the Internet (known as Netreach) will be delivered on a weekly basis providing information on safety, signposting to health, welfare and offering a confidential listening service for 3 years. 2) In collaboration with partners the UK Network of Sex Work Projects, the development of a Netreach toolkit for good practice models of Internet outreach. 3) Reduction in violence and crimes against sex workers and broader access to justice for this group. 4) Overall impact aims are to inform and influence legislation and policy in the regulation of prostitution through engaging in government processes and expert witness requests.

Planned Impact

There are three core groups of beneficiaries to the research: 1) Police through the Association of Chief Police Officers and the National Lead for Prostitution, policy makers (local and national government - particularly those involved in Prostitution Forums) involved in debating, planning and implementing sex work regulation. 2) Sex workers who work online and the broader sex work community. 3) Sex work projects and practitioners who work with sex workers - both statutory and third sector, including sexual health practitioners who deliver specific clinical services to sex workers. We have designed the research project with these three groups - engaging them with the research process so far by consulting key informants in our existing networks and gathering opinion from the UK Network of Sex Work projects and Genesis Leeds. As a result the overall theoretical questions that drive the project forward have been informed by specific needs identified by sex workers and sex work projects who are at the frontline of the industry and service provision supporting sex workers. Therefore our three groups of stakeholders have been influential in designing the Impact Plan, determining what would be the most effective outcomes of the project for sex workers, practitioners, the police and policy makers. We have designed the project to ensure these three groups of stakeholders will benefit in the following ways: 1) Importantly, we will improve access to safety, support, and information to sex workers who work online (usually isolated and without links to support) including promotion of the Home Office funded National Ugly Mug crime reporting scheme for sex workers (part of UKNSWP). Such activities will have some reduction on violence and crimes experienced by sex workers, improving the reporting of crimes and access to justice more broadly for this group. This is a primary impact objective due to the high levels of violence and hate crimes that sex workers experience, their disengagement from services and crime reporting systems and their overall vulnerability as online and home based workers; 2) A key impact objective is to inform and influence legislation and policy processes in the development of the regulation of prostitution in the UK and beyond, by for example, presenting evidence to government and securing invites as expert witnesses. Such opportunities will be both generated by exploiting current links with government and reacted to during the life of the project and beyond as part of the Impact Plan (see Pathways to Impact document); 3) We will achieve impact through a direct service provision role to sex workers and relevant health projects through the activities of the Research, Support and Development Netreach Officer which has an integrated 'delivery and impact' element to the job description (see Pathways to Impact). This role will deliver practitioner outreach with sex workers (all genders) via the Internet (known as Netreach) on a weekly basis providing information on safety, signposting to health, welfare, and other relevant services, and offering a confidential listening service. 4) In collaboration with peer-researchers, the UK Network of Sex Work Projects and sex work-led organisations, we will produce a Netreach resource toolkit (building on the European Correlation Network) which will have positive impacts for the sex work community. The Netreach toolkit will be promoted nationally and via peer 'netreach champions' and the sex worker led consortium Saafe. The Netreach tool will be a free resource for the 150 UKNSWP sex work projects in the UK to use and adapt - a tool for guidance and good practice of how to initiate and provide outreach via the Internet to isolated sex workers. We expect there will be considerable interest in this toolkit across Europe especially given the shrinking of the third sector resources to develop such initiatives in recent years.
 
Title Online sex work in the 21st century 
Description This film was created with research participants in order to demonstrate the working practices and experiences of online sex work. Six people who have had experience of sex work from across a range of identities including migrant, trans and male sex work discuss their experiences. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2018 
Impact This film has been viewed It is part of the training package that has been delivered to police and practitioners. 
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th-J14CMWQ0&t=63s
 
Description Key findings of the report include:
• Online & digital technologies have reshaped sexual commerce
• The diversity of sex workers using the internet in their work - 73% were women, 19% male, 3% transgender and 3% non-binary or intersex
• The majority of sex workers who took part in the study worked in independent indoor sectors, such as escorts, webcam workers, phone sex and BDSM service providers
• Online and digital technology has facilitated more mobile and fluid forms of sex work across different jobs/services within the online sector
• The maximum number of sex work jobs worked in was nine, with the average (mean) number of sectors being two
• Study highlights the need to make a distinction between the use of temporary premises by independent workers and their use in circumstances which involve, trafficking, slavery and coercion
• The majority were self-employed sole traders who worked alone (72%)
• Just over half (51.9%) had gross annual earnings of less than £20,000 from sex work, only 10.1% earned £50,000 or more annually, earnings largely reflected working hours
• The internet is of significant importance to sex workers in different aspects of their work including: developing services; enabling independent working; and giving greater control over working circumstances
• Sex workers reported high levels of job satisfaction, the ability to take decisions about different aspects of their work was linked to this
• 81% said the internet provided access to sex worker networks and peer support, with social media and messaging apps playing an important role
• Online and digital technologies had improved safety strategies for 85% of sex workers in the survey
• Nearly half had privacy concerns, with fears of being 'outed' and stigma detracting from job satisfaction
• A majority, 81%, had experienced at least one form of work-related crime, with high levels of digitally facilitated crime reported
• Current policy and law is focused primarily on areas such as trafficking/modern slavery or child sexual exploitation, and based on certain conceptions of vulnerability, which fail to reflect diversity in the sex industry
Exploitation Route A) Practitioners and health commissioners
1. Bespoke targeted work with a strong digital presence for online sex workers
2. Good practice guidelines we have created will assist with this.
3. Commissioners in health services should include the online sector

B) Police
1) Where mapping is conducted be sensitive to the type of data online and the issues with reflecting reality
2) Make clear operational distinctions between volunrary sex work and that where there is exploitation and coercion
3) Be aware of new types of crimes experiences through online mediums and how this affects sex workers
4) Recognise the problems with underreporting and the need for police to be proactive in their efforts to build trust with sex workers through police liaison models.

C) Policy makers
1) Shift the focus away from street sex work to reflect the realities of sex work
2) Recognise the working conditions of those online and the significant number of independent sex workers
3) Alternative regulatory models need to be looked at that are more appropriate to what the sex industry now looks like
4) Law reform to move away from criminalisation especially that preventing people working together, in order to address safety issues and labour rights
Sectors Communities and Social Services/Policy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Government, Democracy and Justice,Security and Diplomacy
URL http://beyond-the-gaze.com/
 
Description There are a number of outcomes specified to be delivered in the workplan of the project agreed with ESRC these include; 1. In collaboration with NUM/and member projects, the development of netreach good practice guidance toolkit for good practice models of internet outreach & developing services responsive to the needs of internet based sex workers. 2. Production of an online info resource for practitioners (based on research findings) 3. Production of an online info resource for sex workers ( based on research findings). 4. Working with Basis Sex Work Project (Leeds) to enhance their locally based online information and advice & share learning into guidance. 5. In-depth research findings about the internet based sex work sector and the sharing of these via knowledge share and dissemination events. dissemination activities & policy relevant findings briefing documents. 6. Bespoke briefing papers for a number of stakeholder groups including; sex workers, customers of sex workers, police, ad platforms/web designers, sex work support projects and health, service commissioners and policy makers (including civil servants, local councilors and MP's/MSP's. We have grouped these outcomes under 5 categories; Sex work support projects, netreach and resources National policy & policing Research, Educational & academic Media & public awareness BTG Practitioners Group: BTG has taken the lead in establishing a national practitioners group for those sex work support projects and other agencies delivering frontline outreach, health, safety and other support services to sex workers. This is delivered in partnership with National Ugly Mugs but is coordinated by BTG. The group aims to share good practice amongst projects about good practice for working with online sex workers, this is the first ever national networking group to focus on this issue. two meetings of the group took place during the 2nd yea the project in Edinburgh (Nov 1st 2016), in Leeds (April 1st 2017). At the time of collating this report there are projects 42 projects who are members of the group, communication is ongoing with updates shared from BTG. N.B. This group is the only currently active national networking group for NUM on sex work and hence in addition servers an important function in updating projects about each others work generally , policy in their area and good practice initiative's. Good practice guidance resource: a working group from this group, coordinated by the Outreach and Netreach Officer is producing the practice guidance for working with online sex workers (including netreach) which will be launched in the final year of BtG. Bespoke safety information for online sex workers (SSOSW): since June 2017 the Research and Netreach Officer has been working with a small working group of sex workers to collate the production of safety information for online sex workers based on BtG findings. This will be a resource made available to sex worker via the NUM website and the BtG website in the final year of the project. It will also be utilized and distributed by sex work support projects and others working with sex workers. N.B. In August 2017 the BtG team secured a grant of £4289 from the University of Leicester, Wellcome Trust -institutional strategic support fund enhanced involvement of sex workers and practitioners in the development of the Safety information for online sex workers (SSOSW) and evidence based good practice guidance for health and other practitioners working with online sex workers Advice and support to sex work projects: BTG, particularly through the role of the Research and Netreach officer, has provided advice to a range of projects about good practice in providing support services to online sex workers. This has included both projects who are considering introducing a new service or those wishing to enhance current netreach and other provision for on line sex workers. The Research and Netreach officer has been able to act as a conduit for sharing good practice between projects based on findings from Beyond the Gaze. A number of projects have started to assess needs in their area, carry our mappings or have stated delivering netreach as a direct result of awareness raising and advice provided via BTG. These are summarized below; • Manchester Action on Street Health: provided data from Beyond the Gaze about numbers of sex workers in online sector in the UK and a selection of cities to include in MASH bid for a small grant to fund a mapping of their local market. (October 2016). • ARCH North East: provided protocols for netreach and live chat developed with Basis Yorkshire (October 2016) • Liaised between Open Doors and Viva Street between banners on Viva Street • Advised Spires on methodology for research on indoor sex work in Lambeth, London (December 2016) • 5th January 2017 advised new outreach worker at THT Lincolnshire regarding netreach and provided contact details for project working in comparable more rural area. • February 27th 2017 advised Manager of Matrix Project, Norwich NHS Trust - re partnership work with police re online sector. • March 15th 2017 PI and Research netreach officer meet with health outreach workers for Leicester Sexual Health and advised re reaching out to online sector and netreach, work with agencies • March 17th 2017 advised RASA Surrey worker re netreach and online sector • May 5th 2017 advised MASH re survey for online - how to promote to online sex workers and also how they can adopt a better online presence and carry out some basic netreach • 14th June advised REHAB, London about developing their work with indoor and online sex workers in Westminster they are experiencing a range of challenges in their work especially with massage parlour based sex workers. It is also important to note that as the Research and Netreach Officer has provided wider general advise to projects in her interactions with them, the officer has a long track record in developing, managing, delivering sex work support initiatives and working with sex work support projects throughout the UK, including coordinating national networking activity between sex work projects and other organisations delivering , hence is qualified to do this. Examples of general advice she has provided during the project include; October 19th 2017 compiled briefing for Basis on 'Good practice guidance for sex work support' for them to utilize with commissioners and to feed into the Leeds Prostitution Strategy refresh includes information about BTG and online sex work November 30th 2016 advised Cardiff City Council prostitution forum Chair re funding sources to further research re sex work and local authority care and for worker for indoor and online sex workers. December 2016 advised A Way Out, Stockton on Tees about needle exchange and harm reduction protocols March 2016 advised Streetlife, Cardiff about unethical media TV/media August 2017 advised Matrix Project Norwich regarding a modern slavery case. September 12th 2017 advised Basis Yorkshire on sex worker involvement in support services and sex worker rights organisations in the UK. Basis & Btg Netreach: Basis Yorkshire , specifically Basis Sex Work Project is a formal partner of BTG. As described in the introduction BTG have during this second year continued to work with Basis Sex Work Project (Leeds) to enhance their locally based online information and advice & share learning into guidance. As part of this work there have been a number of outcomes during this year: Further development of a protocol for netreach. N=1283 sex workers were contacted via netreach messaging by Basis during 2016-2017 and informed about the service, this is a significant increase from the previous year (n=446). This increase in contacts from 2015-2016 can properly be explained by a number of factors: more netreach sessions carried out as a result of the BtG and Basis netreach action plan, regular netreach to Vivastreet in addition to Adultwork and a decision made in summer 2016 to message all escorts meeting the search criteria for both platforms (not just those newly registered since the previous netreach session). This was to ensure all had up to date info about Basis and hence to keep contact more current. This took part of part of a mapping of online spaces where sex workers were advertising in Leeds. Basis has shared it's practice via the Practitioners Group (Basis attended Practitioners Group Edinburgh 1st November 2016 to share work and hosted the group meeting in April 2017. A weekly live online chat info and advice service has been introduce, whilst numbers accessing has been small this has been a useful scoping and learning experience. BtG as part of Basis netreach activity carried out a mapping of online sex work in Leeds to inform netreach and social media activity. BtG carried out a mapping of escort agencies in Leeds to inform a piece of community development work to be carried out by Basis during the final year of BtG. BtG with Basis has had a more active presence on the SAAFE escort forum and now has for the first time a presence on UK Escorting forum, particularly the Yorkshire and Humber group. Policing BTG has lead to a number of outcomes impacting on local and national policing including; Advised North Yorkshire Police (October 26th) re key platforms where online sex workers advertise, to support a mapping they were carrying out and advised re how they can communicate to people in this sector that the police are there if needed should they face any crimes etc. Advised Avon and Somerset Police Force re the nature of online sex work and online spaces linked to a problem profile being carried out by Criminal Intelligence Analyst Zephyr - South West Regional Organised Crime Unit November 2016. Provided a range of research documents to them. Advice provided about estimating sex worker populations generally and online sex work populations to National Policing Portfolio Analyst, doing a confidential national piece of work on sex work (sexual exploitation and the use of websites to advertise the services of victims) only for the law enforcement arena, carried out by JSTAC (Joint Slavery and Trafficking Analysis Centre), part of the new Modern Slavery Police Transformation Programme. July 2017 provided feedback to North Yorkshire Police Force re harm reduction visits protocol and safety advice. During 2016-2017 Sanders and Campbell continued to both independently sit on the National Policing of Sex Work Working Group advising on research and evidence to Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Holland was National Police Chief Council (England and Wales) lead for sex work during 2016/2017. An initial briefing was produced for police forces (August 2017), this was produced in consultation with the National Police Chief Councils lead on sex work. This was distributed by the Staff Officer representing the office of the NPCC lead to all SPOCS for sex work and to the office of the NPCC lead on modern slavery for distribution via their network across police forces. It was also sent to their contact for Police Scotland and Police Service Northern Ireland. A further final bespoke briefing for police officers will be distributed in the final year of the project 2018. Following the above briefing responded to query from Police Scotland about names of police forces who are doing proactive work re online beyond the modern slavery agenda (following authorization from forces), September 2017. National policy All members of the team have been involved for some years in national groups and advocacy on sex work in the UK and hence are well placed to ensure BTG contributes to policy discussions and formulation. During mid September 2016- to mid September 2017 BTG research has continued to feed into national policy discussions; Sanders and Campbell advised the Home Office on process for commissioning research as part of HO response to Home Affairs Select Committee Inquiry in Prostitution. July 24th 2017 presented interim findings to Home Office civil servants with a lead for prostitution policy, delivery a confidential bespoke briefing paper produced for the Home Office. Jan/February 2017 the Research and Netreach Officer inputted into bid writing for bid for enhancement of sex work support services for funding to Home Office Violence Against Women and Girls Transformation Fund for a bid lead by Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Merseyside. This fund aims to support the governments commitment to addressing violence against women and girls, promoting and embedding the best local practice and ensure that early intervention and prevention become the norm This bid aims to increase capacity and update sex work support in both Merseyside and South Wales police force areas in response to significant changes that have occurred within sex work, as a result of the shift to online markets and the increased presence of migrants in the industry provision. At the heart of this project was a recognition that current provisions were not equally accessible or addressing needs of migrants and online sex workers and the bid included funding to support the development of netreach services based on good practice. July 5th 2017 successful applications were announced by the Home Office. Merseyside Police and Crime Commission was successful and awarded £650,000 of the £1.3 million requested for an initiative entitled 'Merseyside PCC Umbrella Project' which will provide a victim-focused service for sex workers who are victims, or at risk of sexual or domestic violence and abuse, exploitation or human trafficking. '. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/home-secretary-awards-17m-to-tackle-violence-against-women-and-girls
First Year Of Impact 2015
Sector Communities and Social Services/Policy,Government, Democracy and Justice
Impact Types Policy & public services
 
Description 'Improving the sexual health of online sex workers in Birmingham'
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact • The Principle researcher and the Research and Netreach Officer were members of the advisory group for the 'Improving the sexual health of online sex workers in Birmingham' research project' carried out by Aston University for University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. The research advisory group meet 17th March, 2nd June and 6th September 2017. They advised on a wide range of methodological and practice issues and helped promote the research.
 
Description 1. Oral evidence to Women & Equalities Parliamentary Committee
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/women-and-equalitie...
 
Description APPG on Prostitution Inquiry into 'Pop up Brothels'- response from the Beyond the Gaze Research Team - December 2017
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Advised Another Way consultant on design for needs assessment consultation for indoor and online sex worker
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description Advised Brighton Oasis Project, via their HIV Home Testing Project Coordinator about GDPR on contacting SWs for research and cold calling
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description Advised the Matrix project Norwich on a 'no prostitution zone' authorities in their area were considering developing and referred them to NUM
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description Advised the Men's Room on male sex work within national policy reviews.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description Home Office on process for commissioning research looking at mapping the extent of prostitution in England and Wales,
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
Impact Sanders and Campbell advised the Home Office on process for commissioning research looking at mapping the extent of prostitution in England and Wales, as part of HO response to Home Affairs Select Committee Inquiry in Prostitution. The Home Office devolved the commissioning of this to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner South Wales and the tender went public in December 2017.
 
Description Influence the NPCC policing sex work guidelines
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
Impact On the national policing working group for sex work and prostitution and contributed to the guidance.
URL http://library.college.police.uk/docs/appref/Sex-Work-and-Prostitution-Guidance-Jan-2019.pdf
 
Description Leicester multi-agency prostitution forum
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
Impact training from beyond the gaze to multi agency forum
 
Description Modern Slavery Home Office taskforce
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact • 13th March 2018 produced bespoke briefing on online platforms & regulation for NPCC lead on Prostitution, NPCC lead on Modern Slavery, NCA Vulnerabilities Lead, Home Office, Ministry for Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
 
Description National Police Cheif Council working group for sex work and prostitution
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact membership of the new police working group.
 
Description National Police chief Council Police sex Work group / guidance. Influenced the guidance in terms of a) accepting our definition of online sex work; b) recognising the importance of police forces catering for the online sex market that is not related to trafficking. c) flaggedup the need for new knowledge. d) developed training elements in the project outcomes
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
Impact The input from the Beyond the Gaze project to the national working group of the police working in the sex industry operations has been influential in terms of shedding light on the largest sex market in the Uk and the trend over the past decade with the shift to online.
URL https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/major-investigation-and-public-protection/prostitution...
 
Description influence recommendations on prostitution policy in Northern Ireland
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
Impact A government report 'Assessment of impact criminalisation of purchasing sexual services in Northern Ireland' recommended our study as pioneering and the resources we produced were adopted as best practice stating: 'The Practice Guidance includes elements on health care, sexual health and other issues but it is written in a way that does not alienate sex workers. This guidance focusses specifically on online sex workers which is of more direct relevance to the Northern Irish case than the E/LSB study that the existing strategy document is based on. As such, it could be a starting point for the development of any future prostitution strategy in Northern Ireland'. (4.5.7pg 71)
URL https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/justice/report-criminalisation-paying...
 
Description to Home Office Violence Against Women and Girls Transformation Fund for a bid lead by Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Merseyside.
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact Jan/February 2017 the Research and Netreach Officer inputted into bid writing for bid for enhancement of sex work support services for funding to Home Office Violence Against Women and Girls Transformation Fund for a bid lead by Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Merseyside. This fund aims to support the governments commitment to addressing violence against women and girls, promoting and embedding the best local practice and ensure that early intervention and prevention become the norm This bid aims to increase capacity and update sex work support in both Merseyside and South Wales police force areas in response to significant changes that have occurred within sex work, as a result of the shift to online markets and the increased presence of migrants in the industry provision. At the heart of this project was a recognition that current provisions were not equally accessible or addressing needs of migrants and online sex workers and the bid included funding to support the development of netreach services based on good practice. July 5th 2017 successful applications were announced by the Home Office. Merseyside Police and Crime Commission was successful and awarded £650,000 of the £1.3 million requested for an initiative entitled 'Merseyside PCC Umbrella Project' which will provide a victim-focused service for sex workers who are victims, or at risk of sexual or domestic violence and abuse, exploitation or human trafficking. '.
URL https://www.gov.uk/government/news/home-secretary-awards-17m-to-tackle-violence-against-women-and-gi...
 
Description written submission Communications (Digital Regulation) Commission
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
Impact written evidence of the findings from beyond the gaze to the commission reviewing the regulation of the internet
URL https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/communications-committee/i...
 
Description Research Impact and Knowledge Exchange
Amount
Organisation University of Leicester 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2018 
End 07/2019
 
Description Univeristy of Leicester Impact fund
Amount £8,000 (GBP)
Organisation University of Leicester 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2017 
End 07/2018
 
Description University of Leicester / Wellcome Trust Institutional strategic support fund
Amount £4,500 (GBP)
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Department Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2017 
End 07/2018
 
Description Wellcome Trust INstitutional Fund
Amount £500 (GBP)
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2018 
End 08/2018
 
Title Beyond the Gaze 
Description The dataset includes all publications, film, instruments, briefings and other outputs from the project 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact In the last decades the sex industry has made a massive transition which means it is now facilitated largely by digital technology: most of commercial sex happens through or on the internet. Beyond the Gaze (5 researchers and 8 co-researchers for 3 years plus additional impact time) was the first project to examine this change through the lens of sex workers, customers, practitioners, police, policy makers and IT adult entertainment web platforms (References 1-5). The project was underpinned by participatory action research methods, recruiting and training sex workers to be co-researchers throughout the project. Data collection included a range of mixed methods, producing outputs including a film for public engagement, tools and resources for practitioners, guidance and safety resources for sex workers (written by sex workers). The data sets includes a 652 response sex worker survey; 1352 response customer survey; 62 interviews with sex workers; 53 police officers interviewed over 16 forces; 12 IT platform experts interviewed. The project was the first of its kind in the world gaining significant international media and academic attention, with practitioner partners on board from the beginning in order for findings to have direct impact on policy and practice that are timely, relevant and feasible. Before this project there was very limited knowledge of how the internet had affected the working practices and safety of sex workers, or the implications for regulation. 
URL https://doi.org/10.25392/leicester.data.c.4737575
 
Description Basis Sex Work Project 
Organisation Basis Yorkshire
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Working with Basis Sex Work Project (Leeds) to enhance their locally based online information and advice & share learning into guidance. Put netreach into the strategic plan for the NGO
Collaborator Contribution Gave time in their service delivery plan to set up a netreach service; develop a volunteering strategy to ensure the live chat and netreach has personnel;
Impact A netreach service was designed and delivered from sept 2015 until may 2018.
Start Year 2015
 
Description National Ugly Mugs 
Organisation National Ugly Mugs
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution National Ugly Mugs have been a key partner in the Beyond the Gaze project. 1. Facilitated the research by promoting the research to service users 2.Joint training to police and practitioners 3. Developed the practitioner forum which is ongoing now beyond the life of the project 4. Assisting with co-research peer advisory groups and ongoing advise on briefings and practitioner outputs such as guidance and safety information 5. Together developed inroads with adult entertainment websites for development work
Collaborator Contribution Gave expert advice; enabled engagement with service users, included the project in their daily activities to support sex workers with safety information and advice for those working online.
Impact 1. In collaboration with NUM/and member projects, the development of netreach good practice guidance toolkit for good practice models of internet outreach & developing services responsive to the needs of internet based sex workers. 2. Production of an online info resource for practitioners (based on research findings) 3. Production of an online info resource for sex workers ( based on research findings). https://www.beyond-the-gaze.com/practitioners/
Start Year 2015
 
Title Netreach activity 
Description N=1283 sex workers were contacted via netreach messaging by Basis and informed about the service. This increase in contacts from 2015-2016 can properly be explained by a number of factors: • More netreach sessions carried out • Regular netreach to Vivastreet in addition to Adultwork • A decision was made in summer 2016 to message all escorts meeting the search criteria for both platforms not just those newly registered since the previous netreach session. This was to ensure all had up to date info about Basis and hence to keep contact more current. This took part of part of a mapping of online spaces where sex workers were advertising in Leeds. Livechat There has been very little activity via the livechat tool. There was a flurry of activity in June 2017: • A transgender woman from London who had worked online was coming to Leeds to work in the managed area and wanted to find out about outreach-information was provided via live chats and encouraged to contact Emily, which she did. • A sex worker from Canada got in touch to ask if Basis advocated for decriminalisation. • A webcammer was having difficulties with her family who were unhappy with her work. • An online escort got in touch enquiring about volunteering - volunteer recruitment form and details were emailed to her. Experts who have been involved in developing live chat for sex workers in Europe via the Correlation network advised BTG that such services are difficult to take off until: • Livechat and other forms of online information and advice are embedded into project and staff job descriptions, training and practices, rather than an add on. • If delivering only in one city or area with a limited target population size the section of people likely to access is small. There is some evidence that livechat has been more successful when offered regularly, shared across services and cities/regions of a country. 
Type Preventative Intervention - Behavioural risk modification
Current Stage Of Development Initial development
Year Development Stage Completed 2018
Development Status Actively seeking support
Impact This was a detailed service delivery of the netreach service and guidance for practitioners nationally has been designed as a result, assisting projects with their netreach developments. https://www.beyond-the-gaze.com/practitioners/ 
 
Description Beyond the Gaze = How much prostitutes earn revealed in largest study of its kind into the UK's sex workers 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Beyond the Gaze = How much prostitutes earn revealed in largest study of its kind into the UK's sex workers news piece on 24th January 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/how-much-prostitutes-earn-revealed-1109609
 
Description Beyond the Gaze Lauch = Sex workers are setting up 'pop-up brothels' around the UK 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Sex workers are setting up 'pop-up brothels' around the UK article, published on the 29th January 2018 as part of the BTG launch.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/1e40a4e9-5206-4c10-9d76-d5423471db5e
 
Description Beyond the Gaze Launch = BBC Scotland Today 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact BBC Scotland Today on the 23rd January 2018 for the Beyond the Gaze launch.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09nz8db
 
Description Beyond the Gaze Launch = How much prostitutes earn is revealed in new study, 23rd January 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Beyond the Gaze Launch = How much prostitutes earn is revealed in new study, 23rd January 2018
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/how-much-prostitutes-earn-revealed-1106272
 
Description Beyond the Gaze Launch = Internet reduces violent crime and physical assault against sex workers, the evening standard 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Beyond the Gaze Launch = Internet reduces violent crime and physical assault against sex workers piece on the 23rd January 2018 in the evening standard.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/internet-reduces-violent-crime-and-physical-assault-against-sex-w...
 
Description Beyond the Gaze Launch = More control - but more insecurities: how the internet has changed my job as a sex worker 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Beyond the Gaze Launch = More control - but more insecurities: how the internet has changed my job as a sex worker news piece, 26th January 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/money-insecurities-internet-changed-job-sex-worker/
 
Description Beyond the Gaze launch = BBC News Online 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Media Related to BtG Launch on 24th January 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-42785995
 
Description Beyond the Gaze launch = Report: Sex Workers Agree the Internet Makes Prostitution Safer 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Beyond the Gaze launch = Report: Sex Workers Agree the Internet Makes Prostitution Safer, 23rd January 2018.

ABC News Radio Australia
http://www.breitbart.com/tech/2018/01/23/report-internet-makes-prostitution-safer/

Reason.com http://reason.com/blog/2018/01/25/the-internet-makes-life-for-sex-workers
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.breitbart.com/tech/2018/01/23/report-internet-makes-prostitution-safer/
 
Description Contributed to an online documentary about researching sexuality for The Conversation: 
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 Contributed to an online documentary about researching sexuality
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://theconversation.com/anthill-22-sex-91797
 
Description ESRC festival of science funded event. November 8th 2017 Towards good practice for working with online sex workers: support & safety 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The practitioners forum connected to the health and support sex work group created as part of the Beyond the Gaze project came together to discuss preliminary findings and engage in workshops to take forward key elements of good practice guidelines.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description East Midlands Academic Partnership Collaboration blog 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact East Midlands Academic Partnership Collaboration is a policing network organisation which has a regional focus but is also a national website and blog that goes to all police officers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.empac.org.uk/beyond-gaze-new-research-report-university-leicester/
 
Description Event in online Sex work 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Training in online sex work which was aimed at Police officers, local authority, NGO: Cambridge; Norfolf;West Midlands;Gwent; South Wales; Metropolitan; Avon & somerset; Cumbria; Merseyside; Leicester and North Yorks. The total number of people attended was 470 and sessions ran between January and September 2018.

This was done by Professor Teela Sanders, Dr Rosie Campbell and National Ugly Mugs.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Film screening 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact March 21st : Film screening launch : Sex Workers Speak, with three films including Professor Nick Mai 'Normal', Dr Scarlett Redman 'sex work in the UK'and the Beyond the Gaze film 'Online sex work in the 21st Century'. Eventbrite to follow. Henry Wellcome 5-7pm with wine reception.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Hate Crime: Causes, Impacts and Responses training event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Hate Crime: Causes, Impacts and Responses course aimed at police officers, local authority and charity workers in Gloucestershire. 18 people attended this training session on the 17th April 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Hate Crime: Causes, Impacts and Responses training event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Hate Crime: Causes, Impacts and Responses course aimed at police officers, local authority and charity workers in Gloucestershire. 19 people attended this training session on the 18th April 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Hate Crime: Causes, Impacts and Responses training event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Hate Crime: Causes, Impacts and Responses course aimed at police officers, local authority and charity workers in Gloucestershire. 18 people attended this training session on the 19th April 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Hate Crime: Causes, Impacts and Responses training event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Hate Crime: Causes, Impacts and Responses course aimed at police officers, local authority and charity workers in Gloucestershire. 16 people attended this training session on the 16th April 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Internet sex working means more time with the children = Beyond the Gaze Launch 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Internet sex working means more time with the children short film as part of the Beyond the Gaze Launch, 24th January 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-suffolk-42789912/internet-sex-working-means-more-time-with-t...
 
Description Interview with the Guardian 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jan/23/internet-making-sex-work-safer-report-finds)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jan/23/internet-making-sex-work-safer-report-finds
 
Description LSA conference Paper on 'Blended Safety Reportoires and sex work' Law & Society Conference, Toronto Canada June 7-10th. Panel organisation for the CRN6 'Internet, Sex Work and Regulation' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Paper on 'Blended Safety Reportoires and sex work'
Law & Society Conference, Toronto Canada June 7-10th. Panel organisation for the CRN6 'Internet, Sex Work and Regulation'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Launch of Beyond the Gaze findings, Manchester 23rd January: 150 delegates came together from varied audiences such as police, health practitioners, researchers, students, sex workers and activists to hear the findings of this important study. The programme was action packed with 12 speakers, including several sex workers, ending up with a fine uplifting song from the Sex Workers Opera. Five briefing papers were launched: a general summary; mapping online; practitioners; police and customers. 
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 Launch of Beyond the Gaze findings, Manchester 23rd January: 150 delegates came together from varied audiences such as police, health practitioners, researchers, students, sex workers and activists to hear the findings of this important study. The programme was action packed with 12 speakers, including several sex workers, ending up with a fine uplifting song from the Sex Workers Opera. Five briefing papers were launched: a general summary; mapping online; practitioners; police and customers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Male sex work BBC Victoria Derbyshire 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Produced a briefing for BBC2 Victoria Derbyshire program on key findings from BtG related to male sex work and advised the researcher on male online sex work. Statistics from BtG sex worker survey were utilized to highlight under-reporting of crime experienced by male sex workers to the police, with reporting levels even lower than for female online sex workers. This was aired on 12th December 2017, the program has on average , and a reach of over 2 million through it's programs on Facebook and BBC news website. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05qv5qh
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05qv5qh
 
Description Media related to the Beyond the Gaze Launch 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Media related to the Beyond the Gaze launch, 25th January 2018:-

BBC Radio One - Newsbeat
BBC Two - Victoria Derbyshire
BBC Radio Asia - News
BBC Radio Ulster - News
BBC Local Radio Network - News
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description National Police Event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact A National Policing event aimed at Police officers (SPOCS and Senior). 100 people attended and the event took place twice, once in January 2018 and another in January 2019.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Police training event 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Thursday 25th January Rosie Campbell and Teela Sanders were invited to train police by the National Police Lead for Sex Work ACC Dan Vajowki on the key messages for police from the internet sex work study.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Practitioners Sex Work Forum 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact The Practitioners Sex Work Forum was aimed at health and NGO support practitioners and 100 will attend the 3 events which will be spread out over 2018 and 2019 (November 2018, April 2019 and July 2019).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Practitioners: crime, safety, netreach 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Practitioners: crime, safety, netreach was aimed at health and NGO support practitioners and 250 attended the 8 meetings which were spread out over 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Press release 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact LARGEST STUDY OF UK ONLINE SEX WORK HIGHLIGHTS INCOME, DIVERSITY, JOB SATISFACTION AND CHALLENGES FACED BY WORKFORCE
'Beyond the Gaze' research by Universities of Leicester and Strathclyde looks 'behind the screen' at the working conditions, safety & policing of online sex work
"There is little research about online sex work despite it being the largest sector of the UK sex industry. We've carried out a significant study examining how online and digital technology has reshaped the sex industry, working practices, safety issues for workers and how the police and other authorities have responded. We're really excited to publish our findings and we hope they will make a contribution to informing policy, practice, law and wider public education. Evidence based policy is important in an area where stereotypes abound and stigma silences many working in the industry" - (Professor Teela Sanders, Principal Investigator, University of Leicester)
Further information about the key findings and recommendations is available here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/54yt4v458ooxpc8/AACBNuSbMHsYls2PDRxTnBEZa?dl=0
Researchers with expertise in studying the sex industry from the Universities of Leicester and Strathclyde have carried out the largest study to date of UK online sex work, examining the working conditions, safety and policing of the industry.
The project, titled 'Beyond the Gaze', is the first UK-wide study to examine current policing of internet based sex work and highlights how approaches to policing online sex work markets is still in its infancy for many forces, with only a small amount carrying out wider work to increase online sex worker confidence to report crime.
The research, which is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, shows that online sex markets have been pervasive since 2000 and available evidence indicates that the online sector is the largest sector of the UK sex industry - although it is difficult to map/quantify.
The findings show that while the majority of police are aware that sex markets have changed, detailed knowledge of the nature and extent of these changes was variable.
The study included the largest online surveys carried of sex workers (641) of all genders and their clients (1323), a survey of support projects and interviews with sex workers, police officers from sixteen forces, managers or moderators of online advertising platforms/ forums/safety schemes for sex workers and mapping online spaces where sex workers market and/or provide services.
Key findings of the report include:
• Online & digital technologies have reshaped sexual commerce
• The diversity of sex workers using the internet in their work - 73% were women, 19% male, 3% transgender and 3% non-binary or intersex
• The majority of sex workers who took part in the study worked in independent indoor sectors, such as escorts, webcam workers, phone sex and BDSM service providers
• Online and digital technology has facilitated more mobile and fluid forms of sex work across different jobs/services within the online sector
• The maximum number of sex work jobs worked in was nine, with the average (mean) number of sectors being two
• Study highlights the need to make a distinction between the use of temporary premises by independent workers and their use in circumstances which involve, trafficking, slavery and coercion
• The majority were self-employed sole traders who worked alone (72%)
• Just over half (51.9%) had gross annual earnings of less than £20,000 from sex work, only 10.1% earned £50,000 or more annually, earnings largely reflected working hours
• The internet is of significant importance to sex workers in different aspects of their work including: developing services; enabling independent working; and giving greater control over working circumstances
• Sex workers reported high levels of job satisfaction, the ability to take decisions about different aspects of their work was linked to this
• 81% said the internet provided access to sex worker networks and peer support, with social media and messaging apps playing an important role
• Online and digital technologies had improved safety strategies for 85% of sex workers in the survey
• Nearly half had privacy concerns, with fears of being 'outed' and stigma detracting from job satisfaction
• A majority, 81%, had experienced at least one form of work-related crime, with high levels of digitally facilitated crime reported
• Current policy and law is focused primarily on areas such as trafficking/modern slavery or child sexual exploitation, and based on certain conceptions of vulnerability, which fail to reflect diversity in the sex industry

Note: BtG is not a study of modern slavery and trafficking within the online adult sex work sector nor is it a study estimating the size of the online sex work sector generally or the percentage of those within who are victims of modern slavery or who are coerced.

Further information about the key findings and recommendations is available here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/54yt4v458ooxpc8/AACBNuSbMHsYls2PDRxTnBEZa?dl=0
During 2018 the team will carry out further dissemination and publish a range of practical resources based on the findings.
Professor Teela Sanders, Principal Investigator on the Beyond the Gaze project from the University of Leicester, said: "There is little research about online sex work despite it being the largest sector of the UK sex industry.
"We've carried out a significant study examining how online and digital technology has reshaped the sex industry, working practices, safety issues for workers and how the police and other authorities have responded. We're really excited to publish our findings and we hope they will make a contribution to informing policy, practice, law and wider public education.
"Evidence based policy is important in an area where stereotypes abound and stigma silences many working in the industry.
Recommendations from the study have been made to police forces, practitioners and health commissioners, policy makers and researchers, highlighting how online sex work is a growing sector which is underexplored and often misunderstood.
Professor Sanders added: "Current laws and continued structurally embedded stigmatisation of sex work means that many online sex workers remain invisible behind the screen, denied access to full labour rights, full citizenship and access to social justice, pushed increasingly by current laws to work behind the screen."
In relation to policing, Professor Jane Scoular, co-investigator from the University of Strathclyde commented "These fast-moving and hidden markets are a challenge to both the rationale and tactics of traditional policing where the focus has been on public nuisance and in more recent times on trafficking and modern slavery. The current legal framework is not sufficiently agile to encompass the complexities of sex work, which includes elements of consensual (though unregulated) work) nor is it well suited to recognising and responding to the abuses and range of exploitation evident in the online sex markets, resulting in actual harms being ignored. These injustices are only exacerbated if policies and practices of policing do not better align with the realities of sex markets that we highlight".
Dr Rosie Campbell OBE, principal researcher on the project comments: 'From our work with sex workers and practitioners, health outreach workers need to ensure their provisions are accessible to online sex workers, provide appropriate provisions that meet their needs and recognize and promote the peer support networks and sex worker inclusion initiatives'.
• A book based on findings, 'Internet Sex Work', has been published here: http://www.springer.com/in/book/9783319656298
• Further information about the research is available in an Open Access journal article: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X17302117
• Further information about the 'Beyond the Gaze' project: https://www.beyond-the-gaze.com/
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description interview with daily mail 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Daily Mirror (https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-much-prostitutes-earn-revealed-11902009)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-much-prostitutes-earn-revealed-11902009
 
Description radio 4 today programme 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Beyond the gaze findings were aired significantly across the BBC networks Selected media engagement for this event:
* BBC News Online (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-42785995)
* BBC Radio 4 - Today
* BBC Radio One - Newsbeat
* BBC Two - Victoria Derbyshire www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09pb9h7/victoria-derbyshire-23012018 (1 hour 22)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018