ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the degree and nature of contact between sex workers and the police force. This contact is considered from two perspectives. It might be expected that workers as a group have a relatively high level of contact with the police and legal system because they regularly violate the law. More than one third of the women thought their complaint would not be taken seriously by the police while a smaller proportion of women thought that involving the police would worsen existing difficulties with a client or partner. The three reasons most commonly given for the reluctance to approach the police were: not wanting to come to police attention; the belief that they would not be taken seriously; and the fear that they would be charged with a prostitution offence. In general, violence in the sex industry is a threat for workers, with almost one third stating that they had experienced physical or sexual assault.
