Home Office puts onus on outreach

Specialist support must be offered wherever there are women trapped in prostitution, according to new government proposals.

The Home Office’s prostitution strategy, published this week, argues that outreach work is “indispensable” in helping to develop routes out of the trade.

Support projects are urged to develop links with drug treatment providers and Supporting People commissioners are told to consider how housing support can help women leave prostitution.

A publicity campaign will stress that the involvement of young people in prostitution constitutes child abuse and will challenge the view that it is an inevitable part of society.

The Guidance on Safeguarding Children Involved in Prostitution will also be updated. Local safeguarding children boards are advised to be “particularly vigilant about looked-after children”,
and the strategy suggests there should be clear advice for care home staff and protocols between police and care workers.

More at www.homeoffice.gov.uk