Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T14:09:12.379Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

New Localism: Implications for the Governance of Street Sex Work in England and Wales

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 April 2012

Tracey Sagar  and
Jodie Croxall
Tracey Sagar
Affiliation:
Centre for Criminology and Criminal Justice, Swansea University E-mail: [email protected]
Jodie Croxall
Affiliation:
Centre for Innovative Ageing, Swansea University E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This article focuses on the escalating shift in power from the centre to ‘community’ with specific regard to the local governance of street sex work. With reference to reforms in local governance and sex work policy, we question what localism may mean for street sex workers as both vulnerable members of the community and also anti-social subjects. Our critical examination suggests that street sex workers are susceptible to increasing marginalisation and social exclusion. To counter this, it is argued that there needs to be greater attention and investment towards improving community cohesion and democracy for ‘all’ within the localist agenda.

Keywords

Decentralisationcommunity empowermentsex worksocial cohesion
Type
Articles
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 11 , Issue 4 , October 2012 , pp. 483 - 494
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

2020 Public Services Trust (2010) Delivering a Localist Future: A Route-Map for Change, London: 2020 Public Services Trust at the RSA.Google Scholar
BBC (2008a) ‘Community “army” to back police’, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7627746.stm [accessed 28.02.2011].Google Scholar
BBC (2008b) ‘Prostitution crackdown by police’, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/7675286.stm [accessed 28.02.2011].Google Scholar
BBC (2010) ‘New byelaws call for Northampton’, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-11400186 [accessed 28.02.2011].Google Scholar
BBC (2011) ‘ASBO replacement orders announced by Government’, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12378755 [accessed 28.02.2011].Google Scholar
Brents, B. G. and Sanders, T. (2010) ‘Mainstreaming the sex industry: economic inclusion and social ambivalence’, Journal of Law and Society, 37, 1, 40–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bunt, L. and Harris, M. (2010) ‘Mass localism: a way to help small communities solve big social challenges’, NESTA Discussion Paper, http://www.nesta.org.uk/library/documents/MassLocalism_Feb2010.pdf [accessed 20.02.2011].Google Scholar
Coles, J., Cooper, Y. and Raynsford, N. (eds.) (2004) Making Sense of Localism, London: The Smith Institute.Google Scholar
Community Safety Advisory Service (2010) ‘What is the Respect Agenda?’, http://www.csas.org.uk/Respect%20Agenda [accessed 28.02.2011].Google Scholar
Communities and Local Government (2010) ‘John Denham calls for community champions to tackle anti-social behaviour’, http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/ http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1461758 [accessed 25.05.2010].Google Scholar
Cooper, Y. (2006) ‘Speech to New Local Government Network Conference’, 20 November 2006, http://www.communities.gov.uk/speeches/corporate/shaping-place [accessed 21.05.2010].Google Scholar
Coventry Telegraph (2008) ‘Police launch crackdown on prostitution in Hillfields’, http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2008/08/09/police-launch-crackdown-on-prostitution-in-hillfields-92746-21510796/ [accessed 28.02.2011].Google Scholar
Crawford, A. (1998) ‘Crime Prevention and Community Safety – Politics, Policies and Practices’, Essex: Addison Wesley Longman.Google Scholar
Dean, M. (1999) Governmentality: Power and Rule in Modern Society, London: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Department for Community and Local Government (2006) Strong and Prosperous Communities, White Paper, Volume I Cm6939-1 and Volume II Cm6939–11, London: The Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Department for Communities and Local Government (2008) ‘Communities in control: real people, real power – the making and enforcement of byelaws’, http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/byelaws [accessed 28.02.2011].Google Scholar
Evening Post (2008) ‘Crackdown to give Swindon vice girls new hope’, http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Crackdown-Swindon-vice-girls-new-hope/article-374439-detail/article.html [accessed 28.02.2011].Google Scholar
Flint, J. (ed.) (2006) Housing, Urban Governance and Anti-Social Behaviour: Perspectives, Policy and Practice, Bristol: Policy Press.Google Scholar
HM Government (2006) Police and Justice Act 2006, Chapter 48, (2006) London: The Stationary Office.Google Scholar
Government, HM (2007) Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, Chapter 28, London: The Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Home Office (2004) Paying the Price: A Consultation Paper on Prostitution, London: Home Office.Google Scholar
Home Office (2006) A Co-ordinated Prostitution Strategy and a Summary of Responses to Paying the Price (ref.272136), London: COI on behalf of the Home Office.Google Scholar
Home Office (2010) Guidance on Section 17 Policing and Crime Act 2009: Engagement and Support Orders, http://www.gos.gov.uk/497648/docs/300069/806738/929077/GuidanceonSection17PCA2009 [accessed 12.06.2010].Google Scholar
Home Office (2011) ‘Effective practice guidance in responding to prostitution’, http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/crime/responding-to-prostitution [accessed 22.02.2012].Google Scholar
Hubbard, P. (2004) ‘Cleansing the metropolis: sex work and the politics of zero tolerance’, Urban Studies, 41, 9, 1687–702.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, G. (2002) ‘The shifting sands of crime prevention and community safety’, in Hughes, G., McLaughlin, E. and Muncie, J. (eds.) Crime Prevention and Community Safety – New Directions, London: Open University Press.Google Scholar
Hull City Council (2007) Crime and Community Safety Overview and Scrutiny Commission Minutes, 8 November 2007, https://web5.hullcc.gov.uk/akshull/users/public/admin/kab12.pl?cmte=CCS&meet=6&arc=20 [accessed 21.05.2010].Google Scholar
Institute of Community Cohesion (2011a) ‘Big Society – what do we know?’, http://resources.cohesioninstitute.org.uk/Publications/Documents/Document/Default.aspx?recordId=181 [accessed 28.02.2011].Google Scholar
Institute of Community Cohesion (2011b) ‘Are you gearing up for a Big Society’, http://www.cohesioninstitute.org.uk/AboutUs/Services/BigSocietyRapidAction, [accessed 28.02.2011].Google Scholar
Jenkins, S. (2004) Big Bang Localism: A Rescue Plan for British Democracy, London: Policy Exchange.Google Scholar
Jones, G. and Stewart, J. (2006) ‘Blowing in the wind’, Public Finance, http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/search_details.cfm?News_id=29498&keysearch=localism [accessed 23.05.2010].Google Scholar
Kinnell, H. (2008) Violence and Sex Work in Britain, United States: Willan Publishing.Google Scholar
Lacey, N. and Zedner, L. (1995) ‘Discourses of community in criminal justice – locating the appeal to “community” in contemporary criminal justice’, Journal of Law and Society, 22, 301–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liverpool City Council (2010) Hate Crime and Incident Reporting Strategy, http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/council/strategies-plans-and-policies/community-safety/hate-crime-policy/index.aspx [accessed 28.02.2011].Google Scholar
Liverpool City Council (2011–2012) ‘Citysafe: Liverpool Community Safety Partnership Annual Plan’, http://liverpool.gov.uk/council/strategies-plans-and-policies/community-safety/citysafe-annual-plan/ [accessed 22.03.2012].Google Scholar
Local Government Improvement and Development (2011) ‘Councillor call for action: best practice guidance’, http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=9410176 [accessed28.02.2011].Google Scholar
Lund, B. (1999) ‘“Ask not what your community can do for you”: obligations, new labour and welfare reform’, Critical Social Policy, 19, 4, 447–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marinetto, M. (2003) ‘Who wants to be an active citizen? The politics and practice of community involvement’, Sociology, 37, 1, 103–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Melrose, M. (2007) ‘The government's new prostitution strategy: a cheap fix for drug-using sex workers?’, Community Safety Journal, 6, 1, 18–26.Google Scholar
Melrose, M. (2009) ‘Out on the streets and out of control? Drug-using sex workers and the prostitution strategy’, in Phoenix, J. (ed.), Regulating Sex for Sale: Prostitution Policy Reform in the UK, Bristol: Policy Press.Google Scholar
Merseyside Police, Hate Crime Investigations Unit (2010) ‘Sex workers’, http://www.merseyside.police.uk/index.aspx?articleid=980 [accessed 21.6.2010].Google Scholar
O'Neill, M. (2007) ‘Community safety, rights and recognition: towards a co-ordinated prostitution strategy?’, Community Safety Journal, 6, 1, 45–51.Google Scholar
O'Neill, M., Campbell, R., Hubbard, P., Pitcher, J. and Scoular, J. (2008) ‘Living with the other: street sex work, contingent communities and degrees of tolerance’, Crime Media, Culture, 4, 73–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parvin, P. (2009) ‘Against localism: does decentralising power to communities fail minorities?’, The Political Quarterly, 80, 3, 351–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pitcher, J., Campbell, R., Hubbard, P., O'Neill, M. and Scoular, J. (2006) Living and Working in Areas of Street Sex Work, Bristol: The Policy Press on behalf of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.Google Scholar
Putnam, R. (1995) ‘Bowling Alone: America's declining social capital’, Journal of Democracy, 6, 1, 65–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Putnam, R. (2000) Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, New York: Simon & Schuster.Google Scholar
Robertson, J. (ed.) (2005) Smart Localism, London: The Smith Institute.Google Scholar
Rose, N. (1996) ‘The death of the social? Re-figuring the territory of government’, Economy and Society, 25, 3, 327–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rose, N. and Miller, P. (1992) ‘Political power beyond the state: problematics of government’, British Journal of Sociology, 43, 2, 173–205.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sagar, T. (2005) ‘Street watch, concept and practice: civilian participation in street prostitution control’, British Journal of Criminology, 45, 1, 98–112.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sagar, T. (2007) ‘Tackling on-street sex work: anti-social behaviour orders, sex workers and inclusive inter-agency initiatives’, Criminology and Criminal Justice, 7, 153–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sagar, T. (2008) ‘Public nuisance injunctions against on-street sex workers?’, Criminal Law Review, 5, 353–69.Google Scholar
Sagar, T. (2010) ‘Anti-social powers and the regulation of street sex work’, Social Policy and Society, 9, 1, 101–9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sagar, T. and Jones, D. (2010) ‘Reaching out to female street sex workers in Cardiff: findings from “engagement events”’, on behalf of the Cardiff Sex Work Forum (unpublished).Google Scholar
Savage, S. (2007) ‘Neighbourhood policing and the reinvention of the constable’, Policing, 1, 2, 203–13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scoular, J. and O'Neill, M. (2007) ‘Regulating prostitution: social inclusion, responsibilization and the politics of prostitution reform’, British Journal of Criminology, 47, 5, 764–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scoular, J. (2010) ‘What's law got to do with it? How and why law matters in the regulation of sex work’, Journal of Law and Society, 37, 1, 12–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scoular, J., Pitcher, J., Campbell, R., Hubbard, P. and O'Neill, M. (2009) ‘What's anti-social about sex work? Governance through the changing representations of prostitution's incivility’, in Phoenix, J. (ed.), Regulating Sex For Sale: Prostitution Policy Reform in the UK, Bristol: Policy Press.Google Scholar
Stoker, G. (2004) ‘New localism, progressive politics and democracy’, The Political Quarterly, 5, 1, 117–29CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yorkshire Evening Post (2008) ‘Crackdown on inner-Leeds prostitution’, http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latestnews/crackdown_on_inner_leeds_prostitution_1_2187700 [accessed 21.06.2010].Google Scholar