A study examined published research literature on the demand for prostitution. Because of the often hidden and stigmatized nature of prostitution, it was very difficult to produce reliable and accurate estimates of the number of people who procured sex.
Source: Aidan Wilcox, Kris Christmann, Michelle Rogerson and Philip Birch, Tackling the Demand for Prostitution: A rapid evidence assessment of the published research literature, Research Report 27, Home Office
Date: 2009-Dec
A report called for more support for sexually exploited children. It highlighted a 'worrying trend' in organized child trafficking for sexual exploitation.
Source: Whose Child Now?, Barnardo's (01268 520224)
Links: Report | Barnardo's press release | Christian Institute press release | Guardian report
Date: 2009-Nov
A report by the official 'Victims' Champion' examined rape victims' experience of the criminal justice system, and made recommendations for improvements. Police officers were still refusing to take complaints of rape seriously if the victims came from 'the wrong part of town', if they had been drinking, or if they had made previous allegations.
Source: Sara Payne, Rape: The Victim Experience Review, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Report | Home Office press release | Rape Crisis press release | Guardian report | Womensgrid report
Date: 2009-Nov
The government announced a review of how rape complaints were handled, from when a rape was first disclosed until the court reached a verdict. The review (led by Baroness Stern) would look at how public authorities (including the police, local authorities, health providers, and the Crown Prosecution Service) responded to rape complaints; how they interacted with one another; and professionals' attitudes to rape and to evidence from the victims.
Source: Press release 22 September 2009, Government Equalities Office (020 7944 0601)
Links: GEO press release | Fawcett Society press release | Rape Crisis press release | ACPO press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2009-Sep
A new book examined the difficulties that arose for researchers and practitioners when working with sexually exploited young people. Although child protection interventions needed to guide social work, other agencies such as health, education, housing, and training each had a role to play in supporting a sexually exploited young person.
Source: Jenny Pearce, Young People and Sexual Exploitation, Routledge (01264 343071)
Links: Summary
Date: 2009-Sep
A collection of essays examined the obstacles confronting the processing of rape cases through the criminal justice system.
Source: Miranda Horvath and Jennifer Brown (eds.), Rape: Challenging contemporary thinking, Willan Publishing (01884 840337)
Links: Summary
Date: 2009-Sep
A new textbook examined the sociology and criminology of sex work.
Source: Teela Sanders, Maggie O'Neill and Jane Pitcher, Prostitution: Sex work, policy and politics, SAGE Publications Ltd (020 7324 8500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2009-Sep
A new book examined policy on the regulation of prostitution in England and Wales, focusing on the effect of reforms made since 2000.
Source: Jo Phoenix (ed.), Regulating Sex for Sale: Prostitution policy reform in the UK, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2009-Sep
An article examined how homeless women understood their choice to undertake sex work. Homeless women's decisions were, in part, a consequence of systemic familial abuse and coercion from abusive partners: but, in responding to the complex needs of such women, 'abuse' and 'coercion' should not routinely be equated with 'victimhood'.
Source: Rachel Harding and Paul Hamilton, 'Working girls: abuse or choice in street-level sex work? A study of homeless women in Nottingham', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 39 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2009-Sep
The Court of Appeal ruled (dismissing an appeal by the government) that placing people on the sex offenders register for life with no chance of review breached their human rights. The 2003 Sexual Offences Act contained no provision for offenders to seek a review of their continued inclusion on the register by seeking to prove that they no longer posed a risk of reoffending, and was therefore incompatible with their right to private and family life under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Source: JF & Anor, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department, Court of Appeal 23 July 2009
Links: Text of judgement | Telegraph report
Date: 2009-Jul
The Scottish Parliament approved a Bill to reform the law on rape and sexual offences, based on proposals from the Scottish Law Commission. For the first time it defined 'consent' in law, and replaced the common law offence of rape with a broader statutory offence (including male rape). It introduced new statutory offences dealing with sexual exposure, particularly in non-public places; the 'spiking' of drinks for sexual purposes; and coercive sexual conduct, including sexually offensive emails or texts.
Source: Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Government, TSO, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283) | Scottish Parliament Official Report, Debate 10 June 2009, columns 18165-18219, TSO
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | Policy memorandum | Official Report | SG press release | BBC report
Date: 2009-Jun
An article examined ways in which the police operated with other agencies under the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements. Despite co-operation being extensive, there remained problems not only with agencies traditionally viewed as resistant to sharing (health, social services) but also among the core members themselves.
Source: Mike Nash and Laura Walker, 'Mappa – Is closer collaboration really the key to effectiveness?', Policing, Volume 3 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2009-May
The government announced new measures designed to improve the investigation and prosecution of rape, and to provide support to victims. A 'Rape Performance Group', led by the police inspectorate and the Crown Prosecution Service, would monitor police and prosecution service performance on rape and undertake continuous assessments of performance.
Source: Press release 15 April 2009, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Home Office press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2009-Apr
A report by a joint committee of MPs and peers expressed a number of human rights concerns about the Policing and Crime Bill. It said that introducing a strict liability offence for buying sexual services from prostitutes who were being controlled for gain by a third person risked inappropriately interfering with the right to respect for a private life. It also said that the Bill should be amended to decriminalize children involved in prostitution.
Source: Legislative Scrutiny: Policing and Crime Bill, Tenth Report (Session 2008-09), HC 395 and HL 68, Joint Committee on Human Rights (House of Lords and House of Commons) Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Apr
Campaigners said that there had been 20,758 incidents in England and Wales in 2008 where children (under 18) were recorded by police as victims of sex crimes, including rape, gross indecency, and incest. The number of offences recorded against girls was six times higher than the number against boys. Statistics were obtained from 42 police forces.
Source: Press release 19 January 2009, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (0207 825 2775)
Links: NSPCC press release | Telegraph report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2009-Jan
A report by a committee of MSPs endorsed the principles of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill: but it highlighted areas of concern and ambiguity, especially regarding sexual activity between older children. The committee also supported calls for the creation of a new statutory offence of rape with an object.
Source: Stage 1 Report on the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill, 1st Report 2009, SP Paper 194, Scottish Parliament Justice Committee, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SP press release | BBC report | Christian Institute report
Date: 2009-Jan