ulixestrojan 3757 Report post Posted September 8, 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7597232.stm London's brothel industry has spread to "every corner" of the city, according to a charity's report. Brothels in the city offer sex for as little as ?15, and some are charging ?10 extra for unprotected intercourse, the Poppy Project in Southwark found. Its report said 85% of brothels in the city operated in residential areas and researchers posing as sex buyers found brothels in all 33 London boroughs. Westminster had the highest number with 71, compared with eight in Southwark. Underage girls The study was compiled by the Poppy Project, which provides education about prostitution and helps victims of sex trafficking. Researchers posing as potential punters telephoned 921 brothels that had advertised in local newspapers. They found on average 28 brothels in each borough. Together the brothels generated between ?50m and ?130m a year, the researchers estimated. One woman was told she would be working in a restaurant Campaigners insisted this was just "the tip of the iceberg" as the only source of information was newspaper adverts, as opposed to websites or phone box cards. Many operated through legitimate businesses - licensed as saunas or massage parlours - though the vast majority were in private flats in residential areas. The report found 77 different ethnicities among women being offered for sex, many from areas such as eastern Europe and south-east Asia. The average age of the women was 21. Several places offered "very, very young girls" but did not admit to having underage girls available. For most women involved in prostitution, the reality is a cycle of violence and coercion, perpetuated by poverty and inequality Report co-author Helen Atkins According to the researchers, the average price for full sex was about ?62. Co-author Helen Atkins said: "This research shows the disturbing prevalence of the sex industry in every corner of London - fuelled by the demand for prostitution services. "Multi-media misrepresentations of commercial sex as a glamorous, easy and fun career choice for girls and women further contribute to the ubiquity of London's brothel industry. "However, for most women involved in prostitution, the reality is a cycle of violence and coercion, perpetuated by poverty and inequality." Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman said there was "a large and growing number" of very young women being trafficked into the UK. While visiting the project she said she met two women who were brought into the country at the age of 17 "thinking that they were going to come here for a chance for education". They "were tricked and then forced into prostitution" she said. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seymour 3970 Report post Posted September 28, 2008 Another reminder of the exploitation that occurs. Thanks for posting Ulix. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Susie 1472 Report post Posted November 2, 2008 this just goes to show, de-criminalization and a self regulating industry are the only way to go. by driving the industry further and further underground they have created the environment which has allowed this to happen. because being a sex industry business owner is so looked down upon, we have a less and less honorable class of people in that role (business owner). under the proceeds of crime act, a traditional madame (who was a worker and now teaches others) could loose everything they worked for their whole life. the traditional ways of passing down knowledge from experienced workers to those just entering are being lost due to more and more criminalization. the "old sckool code" as we call it here is being lost too. it used to be that when you found a youth at risk or engaged in the trade you did what you could to get them out. there used to be respect between sex workers and business owners. undercutting,un safe sex, stealing regulars, robbing clients...the same things are happening to us and will get worse if we don't try to do something about it. sorry, little rant there!!! i'm engaged in both charter challenges and feeling a little down about the conservative win.:???: cheers! susieXXXO Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d*mm*y 887 Report post Posted November 4, 2008 Under the proceeds of crime I believe that a crime needs to be committed? However more importantly if you are up front about what you are doing and declare the income I believe it is secure? Not sure how you declare it however if it is legal than you should be able to claim the income. I think the ones that get everything taken away are working underground and collecting social benefits in the eyes of the government. This is just my thought and I have no proof or understanding of this from the governments side however it makes sense that if you say that you are unemployed and take advantage of the systems in place to help people, and then you are caught making a good living, and buying things that other people collecting social assistance don't have, that you are going to have to pay the piper somewhere? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Susie 1472 Report post Posted November 5, 2008 no, under the proceeds of crime a madame or business owner could loose everything because running a common bawdy house and living off of the avails are illegal. because the greater community regards all business owners as "bad", long standing businesses that support safe work environments become blanketed by this perception and so are at risk. my friend in Halifax worked as an escort and then opened her own place. she ran a great family feeling kind of place, i remember us all having eggnog ad wrapping xmas presents together at the parlor. in 17 years of business she never lost a worker or had a violent incident. an over zealous police man, who is soon to retire and become a pastor:neutral:, raided her business under the "end sex work" banner, humiliating workers and customers alike, entering rooms without announcing themselves, shaming people in various stages of dress... my friend is 67 years old, in a scooter, has diabetes and needs anoxegen tank to breath. what does the police man say to her? "maybe it's time to try something new"....something new? now she fears loosing her house and savings under the proceeds of crime law because it's not clear about how the law is to be applied. this police man has no understanding of the longterms harms that will be caused by the loss of safe work environments and is blinded by his own personal moral view which comes from a place of wealth and privilege. older workers will fear loosing everything and will not share their knowledge and experience with workers new to the industry. this is driving the indusrty further and further under ground. those workers who belive in ethics and hard work will not move into the role of madame for fear of loosing everything they worked so hard for. sorry, but it's naive to believe we will be treated fairly or that only those working and collecting welfare will be affected. people are expected to pay income tax on all income even if it's illegal. i pay my taxes as a social escort. also to do anything in the world you must have a declared income, to get a bank account, credit card, apartment... so, i pay as i'm sure do many other workers. love susieXXXO Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
