A sex worker's group, SCOT-PEP, has accused Police Scotland of using 'support, health and wellbeing' (SHAW) visits as a cover for raids in an attempt to criminalise those involved in the sex industry. Police have been turning up at the homes of known sex
workers unannounced to deliver 'support' or 'advice' to people who sell sex. SCOT-PEP co-chair Nadine Stott said: In a legal context where the police prosecute sex workers, it's completely inappropriate
to use police surveillance and unannounced police visits to deliver 'support' or 'advice' to people who sell sex. We have now seen that part of Police Scotland's own remit with regards to Operation SHAW is to 'identify other
criminality'. For sex workers in our network, this raises the frightening possibility that Police Scotland are conducting surveillance and surprise home visits on sex workers under the veneer of offering 'help and support', while in fact looking for
opportunities to criminalise sex workers for drug use, immigration offences or anything else they can find.
In an attempt to assist sex workers, SCOT-PEP has published know your rights cards for sex workers in Romanian, Thai,
Portuguese, Polish and Mandarin Police have informed another sex worker group called Encompass who are working with the SHAW scheme that no women have been prosecuted as a result of any SHAW visit. Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Houston, head of
Police Scotland's Human Trafficking Unit, said: Police Scotland is committed to improving the safety and wellbeing of people, localities and communities. It is recognised that many males and females involved in
prostitution are there as a result of force or a perception of limited alternatives. It is also acknowledged that other persons may have freely chosen to be involved in prostitution. SHAW (Support, Health and Wellbeing) visits
were introduced by Police Scotland and our partners to improve our multi-agency response to 'off-street' prostitution. Visits are victim-centred as opposed to enforcement being a priority. The methodology has been developed through collaboration between
Police Scotland and key partner agencies.
| 
