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21/12/2009 - INTERNATIONAL DAY TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST SEX WORKERS – 17TH DECEMBER 2009 EVENTS AND NEWS

December 17th is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. This event was created to call attention to hate crimes committed against sex workers all over the world. It was created by The Sex Workers Outreach Project in the USA as a memorial and vigil for the victims of the “Green River Killer”, in Seattle Washington. Go to http://www.swopusa.org/dec17/ if you want to read more about the day. It has become a day when sex workers and allies in towns and cities from around the world come together and organize against discrimination and remember victims of violence.



Here we feature the white ribbon, which is a symbol of remembrance, and the red umbrella which is the international symbol of sex worker rights.

17TH DECEMBER ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY NETWORK MEMBERS & NEWS ON SUCSESSFUL PROSECUTIONS

Below is a list of activities (that UKNSWP has been made aware of) which are being organised by Network members for the 17th December 2009. Also some projects share details of cases of prosecutions against perpetrators of violent crimes against sex workers.

Women's Project in Stoke-on-Trent

Lucie and her colleagues at the Women's Project in Stoke-on-Trent are holding a full day of activities and relaxation for the women who use the service. This will involve free haircuts by a professional hairdresser, manicures, free buffet, crafts and other activities and a gift bag for every woman who attends.

They report one rape case that went to court in May 2009. The result of this was the man was found guilty and received a minimum of 8 years and then to be deported back to his own country. The project report that they are still vigilant when a woman reports an attack and encourage them to report to the police. If they do not wish to report then this information is still recorded on the Ugly Mug sheet (with their permission) and a report of the incident is sent to the police (without the woman's name on) in order to build up a profile of the offender.

Dorset Working Women’s Project, Bournemouth

Pauline and colleagues from Dorset Working Women’s Project are planning to mark 17th Dec, International Day to End Violence against Sex Workers, by starting to make a wall hanging. Every Tuesday they run a drop in for clients (mainly street sex workers) and last week started working on this idea for the wall hanging. They have cut sheets into squares and women are writing poems, painting, drawing etc and it will be stitched back together, what they will be the finished product is to be seen. Photos will be taken of the finished product. They report that recently an indoor worker took a punter to court for stalking and harassment; he will be sentenced next month. This case made the national press.

Praed Street Project, London

Jane Ayres and colleagues at Praed Street are doing some related activities leading up to the 17th. The Team will join IUSW/GMB's carol singing event in Soho. They are proactively updating / refreshing their safety tips leaflets by asking all the women in the drop in for their top safety tips. They will then update the leaflets for the 17th. They plan to put a tip wrapped in a chocolate in each of the condom bags for drop in and outreach a bit like the Chinese crackers!! They have recently updated their local project ugly mugs form to make it more detailed and useful.A key message the project would like to share is; "PLEASE install the metal strip known here as ‘The London strip’ on your door. A lock is only as strong as the frame it is attached to. Wooden door frames alone are not very strong."

Cyrenians GAP, Newcastle

Laura and colleagues at GAP are having a fundraising nighton the 12th December and are raising awareness about 17th December and GAP. They have produced with service users a Bluetooth Video focused on safety tips.

The Oasis Project, Brighton

Mel and her colleagues at The Oasis Project in Brighton will be promoting recent arrests/ convictions for crimes against sex workers, (hopefully in the form of a newsletter) and will also promote the 17 December. During the week they will be raising the issue of safety with service user and ensuring everyone has copies of the UKNSWP safety booklet. They report that Earlier in the year Stephan Mocanu, from Romania was sentenced to six years for trafficking. In October 2009, Niel McMillan was arrested and charged with the murder of Andrea Waddell (due to appear at Lewes Crown Court in the New Year). In November 2009, Rupert Verrell received a custodial sentence for false imprisonment of a sex worker. There was also a recent conviction of a man for making threatening and abusive phone calls to a Brighton parlour

The Well, Bristol

Catherine and colleagues at the Well in Bristol will be holding a service at The Well in Bristol. It will be similar to the service that we held last year and there will be the following order of service; Opening prayer, Poetry readings and prayers, Share women's stories and changes that they have made in their lives, each of the names of the women who have died as a result of domestic violence are read out. Each resident will choose a piece of music which will be played during the service. The staff are currently working on the details of the service with the women who are currently at The Well so the details may change slightly but this is overall plan.

Armistead Street, Liverpool

In Liverpool, Armistead Street is holding a memorial service with sex workers, families of murdered sex workers, allies, partner agencies and Merseyside Police. They will be decorating the church with red umbrellas’ and placing white ribbons on the Christmas tree. They will have enamel badges in the shape of red umbrellas’ to give out to everyone who attends & also on outreach. They will highlightt Ugly Mugs and safety on outreach and highlight recent convictions for violence against sex workers here in Liverpool during 2009. These are listed below;

Mr Paul Kelly-Section 18 Assault (Domestic Abuse) 16mths
Mr Michael Molyneux-Rape x 2 Indefinite Sentence for Public Protection
Mr C-Theft by finding Police Caution
Mr A-Historical child abuse (17 years)
Mr K-possession of an offensive weapon-sentence due 17th December!

Triangle Project, Burnley

Maureen and colleagues at the Triangle Project in Burnley are planning to hold a small candle light vigil at their drop-in service. They also share news of two convictions during 2009.

Court Case 1

In August 2008 a sex worker was raped and robbed in the grounds of Burnley College. The following newspaper clipping was released shortly after the incident appealing for witnesses to the incident.

6:00pm Wednesday 13th August 2008

A WOMAN was sexually assaulted and robbed by a hammer-wielding man in the grounds of Burnley College. The 29-year-old was approached by her attacker close to the Ormerod Road building and was threatened with the weapon. He subjected her to a serious sexual assault and demanded she hand over valuables, police said. The terrified woman handed over a ring and the pair then went to nearby Shorey Bank, where police say a “verbal altercation” took place. A 20-year-old man arrested in connection with the incident was today being quizzed by detectives. However, officers are still seeking witnesses. They believe that anyone in the area on Monday between 9pm and 10pm may have overheard the row or witnessed the alleged assault. Det Insp Dean Holden, who is leading the investigation, said: “This is a very serious incident and a full and thorough investigation is now under way, with one arrest already made. “Forensic officers have examined the scene and house-to-house inquiries have been conducted but any additional information that local people can provide would greatly assist detectives. “We are appealing for local residents and anyone else in this area around the time of the incident to think back and contact us if they saw anything suspicious or if they either saw or heard the altercation that took place.” Anyone with information should contact Burnley CID on 01282 472144 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Following this incident the sex worker who experienced the rape and robbery reported the incident to the police that evening. CID informed Triangle project the following day of the report and requested that Triangle Project link in with this female and offer her ongoing support throughout the case.

Following positive multi-agency working within the IOMU at Burnley Police Station a suspect was quickly detained, and charged based on evidence obtained through electronic tagging system and evidence being found in his property when searched.

A MAN has appeared in court charged with rape and robbery in the grounds of Burnley College. Anthony Shaw (20), of Hart Street, Burnley, was remanded in custody after making a brief appearance at Burnley Magistrates' Court in relation to an incident on Monday, which took place between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Shaw's case was sent to Burnley Crown Court where he will appear on November 3rd.Detectives are appealing for witnesses to the incident in which the defendant is alleged to have threatened a 29-year-old woman with a claw hammer before assaulting her. She is said to have handed him a ring and both of them headed towards Shorey Bank where a row took place. Officers still need to hear from anyone who could assist their investigation – particularly anyone who may have seen the man and woman or overheard them shouting .Information can be passed to detectives at Burnley CID on 472144 or to Crimestoppers, free and anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Throughout awaiting for the offender to be charged Triangle offered ongoing support to the sex worker who was attacked. When the case went to Preston Crown Court a member of the Triangle Project was in court every day to support the sex worker. Following this case going to court, the original suspect was found guilty and sentenced to a minimum of 14 years. The following article was published in respect that following his arrest previous offences he committed against another sex worker had come to light.

Dangerous Burnley rapist may have struck before

4:20pm Tuesday 16th June 2009

A “DANGEROUS” rapist who was jailed for at least 14 years may have struck before, police believe. Anthony Shaw, 21, was handed an indefinite sentence with a minimum term of 14 years at Preston Crown Court earlier this week for the rape and robbery of a 29-year-old prostitute in the grounds of Burnley College. He was also convicted of an attempted robbery committed seven months earlier in which he threatened a sex worker with a broken bottle. Now police have revealed they believe Shaw may be responsible for at least one other sex offence for which no one has ever been charged. And the man who led the investigation has told how detectives closed the net on the rapist. Unemployed Shaw attacked a prostitute in Queen Victoria Road, Burnley, in January 2008. He was interviewed by police acting on information from the public but no further action could be taken because officers could not trace the victim to implicate Shaw. Later that year in August, after a prostitute was raped, robbed and threatened with a claw hammer in the grounds of Burnley College, off Ormerod Road, Shaw was again brought to detectives’ attention and steps were taken to build up a case – including by speaking to Burnley’s prostitute community. Chief Inspector Dean Holden said: “Once we knew about the August rape and robbery, we went hell for leather to link him to the attempted robbery from January, and we managed to trace the woman attacked in January. “We sent out leaflets among the prostitute community straight away to tell them what had happened to this woman.” Police suspected Shaw, who had previous convictions, partly because his house at the time, in Claughton Street, was so close to the scenes of the two incidents. He also matched a description provided by the victim of the rape and robbery. Mr Holden added: “It is clear from these offences that he has a dislike for prostitutes and he has also made derogatory comments about them to police, referring to them as scum. “He is a really dangerous offender. We are really concerned that had we not locked him up so soon after this rape that he would have gone on to commit other offences of a similar nature. “He has been considered for at least one other offence against a prostitute but as yet there is not enough evidence to proceed.”

In June 2009 Antony Shaw was convicted to a minimum of 14 years custody.

Court Case 2

On Monday 26th January 2009 a Burnley Sex Worker was dragged into a skate park and sexually assaulted. At the time of the incident the sex worker called the police to report the incident and the quick response that was provided led to vital DNA evidence being obtained from the scene. The sex worker who was attacked was a client of the Triangle Project at the time of the incident and contacted outreach following the incident occurring. Outreach provided ongoing support to this sex worker throughout the process including assisting the police to gain access to her home to interview her. Triangle also offered support through the process of identifying a suspect and attended court in order to offer support prior to the client giving evidence, verdict and sentencing.
The following newspaper article was released 3 days later appealing for witnesses.

News report: Sex assault at Burnley skate park

12:10pm Thursday 29th January 2009

A WOMAN was sexually assaulted after being dragged into a skate park at night. The 27-year-old was walking along Colne Road, Burnley, close to the Interact skate park, when she was approached by a man, thought to be in his late teens. He asked her for a cigarette and a light before dragging her into the skate park and sexually assaulting her, police said. The woman, who detectives said had been left “shaken”, received minor bruising in the incident, at 9pm on Monday. Police said the man was Asian, around 5ft 5ins, slim, clean shaven with “neatly cut” spikey hair. He was wearing a black Stone Island jacket and grey combat trousers. Anyone with information should contact detectives on 01282 472228.

Following an investigation a 15 year old male was convicted of this offence and sentenced to two years custody and five years on the sex offenders register.

New report: Boy, 15, jailed for 'nasty' sex attack

5:12pm Thursday 27th August 2009

A 15-year-old boy who carried out a “nasty and unpleasant” sex attack has been sentenced to two years’ detention. The boy dragged the woman, who was working as a prostitute, down an alleyway off Colne Road, Burnley, and told her he had a knife and would use it. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was trapped by his DNA after spitting on the ground, Preston Crown Court heard. He attacked the woman after approaching her and asking if she would perform a sex act on him. She asked if he had money and started to walk away when he offered to pay by cheque. The boy had denied sexual assault, but was convicted of the January 26 attack by a jury following a trial. The victim was a drug addict who occasionally funded her addiction through prostitution, the court heard. Ayaz Qazi, defending, said the boy was clearly undergoing considerable personal difficulties and had special educational needs. “He is somebody who is clearly lacking the sort of care and attention a young man of his age would ordinarily expect. “He doesn’t accept his responsibility for his actions and I cannot change that position. I accept it was a serious offence.” The youth will be on the sex offenders register for five years.
Although the project encourages reporting information through the Ugly Mug system, in the above incidents both women had complete confidence in reporting the offences directly to Lancashire Constabulary. Triangle Project provided continual support to both client’s throughout both court cases and the positive outcomes continue to reinforce that violence against sex worker’s will not be tolerated.

Bradford Working Women's Service

To mark the Bradford Working Women’s Service have created a “graffiti wall”. They invite all to make a comment about their thoughts on this important day the “Graffiti Wall” at their drop-in. This can be done during service opening hours on 17th and 18th December, opening hours are Thursday 10.00am to 4.30pm and Friday 10.00am to 4.00pm. The three ways people can contribute are:

• Come to the service and write on the graffiti wall (please telephone and let us know you’re coming Tel: 01274322393

• Telephone and let Bradford Working Women's Service know what you want to say and we will write it on for you

• Email your comments and they will be added to the wall

GMB Sex Workers Union Event

GMB Sex Workers Union will hold Carol Singing in the Soho Area to mark the day. This will take place at 7.30 pm till late. Start at 55 Dean Street, Soho, St Annes Church.

FOCUS ON VIOLENCE AGAINST TRANSGENDER WORKERS: UKNSWP SUPPORTS STATEMENT FROM SW5, THT

UKNSWP and it’s members have been concerned about violence against transgender sex workers and the tragic murders during 2009 of two transgender females during 2009. Staff from SW5 Del Campbell and Lee Brooker, SW5 London have kindly prepared the following comment on violence against transgender sex workers.

"We have found that the rights and needs of Tran’s sex workers are often over-looked. Our project has seen a huge rise in the number or pre-op migrant M2F Trans sex workers coming through our doors over the last few years. Often these workers are here on a student or tourist visa where there employment opportunities are limited. Many are selling sex in order to fund their Gender Re-Assignment Surgery - either here in the UK - or in their country of origin, where NHS treatment is not an option. Pre-op Tran’s sex works are often marginalised by society by the very nature of their work and their gender. Violence against the Tran’s community and violence against sex workers is not uncommon. Tran’s sex workers often draw attention to their services through carding (which in turn might also have an impact on their immigration status). Sometimes by using quite crude terms like "Chick with a Dick" to do so.

Whilst many have a good relationship with their clients other report that these clients are confused by their sexuality - often identifying as straight but showing behaviour which implicates that they may be gay or bi-sexual and have not come to terms with this perhaps seeing the Trans sex worker as a way of experimenting with their sexuality. Some clients ascertained that they simply wanted to be dominated by an "active female." Some trans sex workers have reported that the sexuality confused clients, can often be angry or aggressive especially after the sexual act has taken place. We have seen an increase in the number of Transphobic attacks in London - a total of 55 in the last three months. We have also read reports of the shocking murders of two Trans females in London and Brighton within the same month - and both of these individuals are reported to have been involved in sex work. The reporting of these crimes was often derogatory both about the individual's work and their gender. SWISH is one of the key agencies which activity promotes it work with Trans sex workers. We also run Trans Awareness Training. We realise that for people to understand the needs of this client group they have to understand what Transgender really means. We say fight prejudice and improve ignorance. We say encourage Trans individuals in all natures of work to report crime. We say let's work together to increase awareness about this too often misunderstood and vulnerable group."