Desperate plight of sex workers is revealed as prostitute gives birth then goes back to work just 30 MINUTES later

From heading back to work 30 minutes after giving birth to offering sex to pay for a broken washing machine, a police officer has given an insight into the lives of Hull’s prostitutes.

PCSO Jacqui Fairbanks has been helping the sex workers in Hessle Road for a decade.

She has spoken of tragic backgrounds for many of the women and the vicious circle they are in.

She said: “Some of these women have come from backgrounds of child abuse, both physical and sexual.

“Violence in their lives has been commonplace and many are homeless who just sofa surf.

“Quite a number suffer from mental health problems and there are issues of trafficking and coercion by pimps and boyfriends.

“But the biggest issue is drugs and many of these women are on the streets to pay for theirs and their partner’s next fix.

“One woman had a baby and, within half an hour, was back out on the streets. That’s how desperate some of these women are.”

PCSO Fairbanks admits it is difficult to get these women off the streets.

She said: “Our problem is that these women will not come and deal with us. Their self-esteem is so low that they enjoy the attention they receive and that is really sad.

“They are in a cycle they simply cannot get out of.

“We work very closely with other agencies, such as social services, the Together Women Project. Lighthouse, the Vineyard and Humbercare.”

PCSO Fairbanks believes police are making progress but prostitution remains in Hull.

She said: “At the moment we have around 40 sex workers. Some will be out every night while others less often.

“Most of the women are in their late 20s or early 30s but we do have a couple of women in their 60s. Thankfully, we don’t have any young girls on the streets in Hull.

“Some have been in the sex trade business for a long time. We had one woman come out because her washing machine had broken and she needed some cash to have it fixed."

PCSO Fairbanks says the lack of sympathy for prostitutes can be unfair.

She said: “There is a perception that these women are all on benefits but that is not always the case. For many, this is their only source of income.

"At the end of the day these women are somebody’s daughter.

“I try to tell them they are better than this. But all we can do is off them the help through the different agencies.

“This isn’t Pretty Woman I’m afraid. Some rich punter isn’t going to come along and sweep these women off their feet and live happily ever after.”

While the age range of the sex workers is consistent, the same cannot be said for punters.

PCSO Fairbanks said: “We have lads as young as 17 or 18 using these sex workers and the age range goes up to those in their 80s.

“They are all from different backgrounds and cultures. There are those who are very affluent and those who are unemployed.

“Most of the punters have partners but for some reason there is little or no sex life. Often it is salesmen who are away from home for long periods.”

One thing PCSO Fairbanks is relieved about the reduction in violence.

She said: “We have managed things better now and there is less violence towards these women.

“There will always be dodgy pimps and violent boyfriends but, otherwise, the women are quick to tell us if they have been victims of violence. We have a better rapport.

“It has been around ten years since the last murder of a sex worker.”

Section 222 orders

In a landmark ruling in 2014, section 222 orders were introduced meaning prostitutes and kerb crawlers found breaching the order by loitering, soliciting or having sex, face arrest.

Plain-clothes officers have been employed to catch kerb crawlers approaching prostitutes.

In the last three months, there has been police engagement with 26 kerb crawlers. There has been 16 section 222 orders have been handed out to users and a further 12 warnings issued.

The long-term plan is to put kerb crawlers on courses rather than sending them to court.

In the last three months there has been police engagement with 42 sex workers. There have been 33 section 222 orders handed out, 32 warnings issued and there has been 32 breaches of those orders, sometimes by the same person multiple times.