Challenging perceptions of sex work in Wales
Research by Swansea University has transformed policy and practice for people engaged in sex work in Wales, helping to improve their safety and wellbeing.
In Wales, sex work has traditionally been seen as a 'harm' against the community. Sex workers have mainly been targeted as community offenders and have had very little access to support services.
The research team at Swansea University wanted to challenge these notions of sex work as harmful and talk directly to sex workers to discover their real needs.
A better understanding of sex work
The team's research found that:
- street-based workers were at high risk of sexual and physical violence from clients and members of the community, but most don't report it
- sex workers felt safer when engaging with outreach services and would like better access to sexual health, drug treatment, counselling, housing and mental health services
- sex work was only a community issue in six out of 891 Welsh electoral wards and, for most people, was not a nuisance.
Their findings contradicted commonly held views that sex work harms communities. Instead, sex workers were mainly identified as vulnerable women who experience physical and sexual violence, verbal assaults, judgement and stigma, and who struggle to access support services.
The research team recommended a better understanding of sex work through education and training, multi-agency working based on sex workers' self-identified needs, and a change in how the police respond to sex workers. They also recommended that the Welsh Government embed harm reduction for sex workers within their wider policy framework.
Changes to policy and practice
The team's research had a direct impact on policy and practice in Wales, leading to the establishment of the Strategic Sex Work Safety Group - a national group of policymakers, police, academics and front-line professionals who ensure that issues relating to sex work, such as violence against women, domestic abuse, modern slavery, substance misuse, sexual health and housing, are included in all relevant Welsh Government strategies
It has also inspired a new approach to policing sex work and modern slavery that focuses on harm reduction rather than law enforcement and steers sex workers away from the criminal justice system.
The team has developed training with external partners, front-line services and sex workers, that raises awareness of sex workers' needs, motivations and the impact of stigma, and encourages harm reduction practices.
In addition to the above, two new teams have been set up in Cardiff that provide multi-agency risk assessments and joined-up responses for sex workers deemed to be at high risk of harm. Organisations have also changed how they work with sex workers, with some now also including off-street as well as street-based sex workers in their work.
An overarching aim of the research was to work with sex workers to ensure they have a voice in finding ways to reduce stigma and improve their safety and wellbeing. To date, Sagar and Jones’ projects have worked with over 100 sex workers in Wales, including through inclusive engagement events and peer research opportunities.
Research team
Professor Tracey Sugar and Professor Deborah Jones – Swansea University
Research partners
Gibran UK and the Terrence Higgins Trust