Received this in response to my enquiry to the home office. I think it needs a careful analysis in terms of actual benefits etc, plus what is being allocated from eg national lottery funds to groups supporting women to exit. Anyone like to have a try?
Thank you for your email of 7 April about support to vulnerable women during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, including those involved in prostitution. Your email has been passed to officials for a response.
Firstly, I would like to assure you that the Government is committed to tackling the harm and exploitation that can be associated with prostitution and we believe that people who want to leave prostitution should be given every opportunity to find routes out. We are also committed to protecting those selling sex from harm and enabling the police to target those who exploit vulnerable people involved in prostitution. We continue to work closely with the police, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), other front-line agencies and wider partners to ensure the legislation achieves these aims.
Regardless of the legal position of prostitution in the UK, the law on rape and sexual assault is clear and unequivocal. We expect every report of sexual violence and rape to be treated seriously from the time it is reported, every victim to be treated with dignity, and every investigation and prosecution to be conducted thoroughly and professionally.
In October 2019 we published research we commissioned from the University of Bristol on the current nature and prevalence of sex work and prostitution in England and Wales. The research highlights the enormous complexity of sex work and prostitution today, and we will incorporate this new evidence into our wider work.
We would like to assure you that the Government is committed to supporting vulnerable women, including those involved in prostitution or those who are particularly at risk of sexual violence and exploitation during the Covid-19 crisis.
The Government is working closely with providers of sexual violence support services to ensure that the needs of victims of sexual violence and exploitation are fully considered in its response to Covid-19. We are also carefully considering the longer-term impact of Covid-19 on victims of sexual violence and their support needs once lockdown has ended.
We understand that those who are vulnerable and involved in selling sex or engaging in ‘survival sex’ can face a number of challenges that affect their ability to access services, particularly during this time. The Government has published guidance on accessing services such as those for mental health, housing, drugs and alcohol, domestic abuse and sexual violence. Existing specialist support services will continue to be available to those seeking help.
The Government is providing support to those who are self-employed and have lost income due to Covid-19. Those affected may be eligible to claim a grant though the Covid- 19 Self-employment Income Support Scheme. In addition, as part of the Government’s strategy to support people affected by Covid-19, we have made changes to ensure people who need financial help have access to the benefit system. We have temporarily relaxed the application of the Minimum Income Floor for all self-employed Universal Credit claimants affected by the impact of Covid-19, for the duration of the outbreak.
The Government has also pledged a package of grant funds worth £750 million, which will be provided to support charities at risk of financial hardship that are providing key frontline services to vulnerable people affected by the pandemic. The funding is being handled by the National Lottery Community Fund as well as individual Government departments and will be open to applications.
Thank you for writing on this important issue.