Policing Vulnerability: The care and control of sex workers through designated police officers

Kate Brown; Sharon Grace; Scarlett Redman

doi:10.1093/bjc/azae026

Policing Vulnerability: The care and control of sex workers through designated police officers

Kate Brown, Sharon Grace, Scarlett Redman

Social Policy and Social Work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The state’s duty to protect vulnerable people gives rise to powerful forms of social intervention, especially in policing. This paper reports from co-produced multimethods research focussed on one form of policing vulnerability within an English police force; the role of a specialist Sex Work Liaison Officer (SWLO). Findings highlight that an enhanced focus on vulnerability through the role was highly valued by sex workers; building trust and improving investigations of crimes against sex workers. However, social control was the defining parameter for the intervention, with different implications across the diversity of the sex industry. Drawing on Gilson’s (2021) intersectional feminist philosophy work, we situate findings within critical attention to policing vulnerability, arguing the embedding of vulnerability within governance apparatus orientated to social control must be met with vigilance if it is to be progressive rather than reactionary.

Original language	English
Article number	azae026
Number of pages	20
Journal	British Journal of Criminology
Early online date	15 May 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azae026
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 15 May 2024

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Vulnerability
sex work
policing
Social control
harm reduction
justice

Access to Document

10.1093/bjc/azae026Licence: CC BY

aPolicing Vulnerability: The Care and Control of Sex Workers Through Designated Police Officers
© The Author(s) 2024
Final published version, 1.89 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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