SEX WORKERS SPEAK OUT: Policing and the sex industry

Nicolé Fick

doi:10.17159/2413-3108/2006/v0i15a1003

Abstract

South African sex workers, especially those working on the street, have good reason to feel afraid when they are on the job. Not only do they have to contend with the inherent dangers of their profession, but because sex work is a crime, they face frequent abuse and harassment from the police who are ostensibly upholding the law. But the threat of arrest does little to stop sex workers; instead it forces them underground and into situations that are potentially even more dangerous.

Highlights

There are those who would argue that sex work is an inherently violent occupation; it is clear that the laws criminalising this work make sex workers easy targets for violence.[1]
Steve Chapman eloquently explains the association between sex work, crime and violence as follows: As for criminals, hookers tend to be surrounded by felonious confederates because what they do is illegal
The study consisted of one-on-one interviews with 17 sex workers in Cape Town – and looked, among others, at their experiences with the police and their ability to receive protection from violence

Summary

Introduction

There are those who would argue that sex work is an inherently violent occupation; it is clear that the laws criminalising this work make sex workers easy targets for violence.[1]. Most agencybased sex workers in this study indicated that they had never experienced violence at the hands of the police.

Results

Conclusion