Overview

This bill aims to improve support services for individuals leaving prostitution in England. It mandates the creation of national and local strategies outlining support measures, recognizing prostitution as a form of violence against women and a barrier to gender equality.

Description

The bill introduces a legal duty on the Secretary of State to develop and regularly review a national strategy for supporting people exiting prostitution. This strategy must consider various factors impacting those leaving prostitution, such as substance misuse, housing, healthcare, and legal issues. The strategy will also identify best practices, provide guidance, and establish benchmarks for evaluating support services.

Local authorities and their Health and Wellbeing Boards are also required to create and maintain local strategies, aligning with the national strategy and addressing local needs. These strategies must include a program of support within six months of publication. The bill emphasizes a coordinated, multi-agency approach to support, ensuring that help is tailored to individual needs, is not conditional on participation in legal proceedings, and is not limited to short-term assistance.

The bill defines key terms such as "abuse," "child sexual exploitation," "domestic abuse," "prostitution," "sexual violence," "substance misuse," and "violence against women," ensuring consistency in application.

Government Spending

The bill does not specify exact figures for government spending. However, it will likely lead to increased expenditure on developing and implementing national and local strategies, coordinating support services, and monitoring their effectiveness. The exact cost will depend on the scale and scope of the programs developed under the strategies.

Groups Affected

• Individuals exiting prostitution: Will benefit from improved access to comprehensive support services addressing their physical, psychological, and social needs.
• Local authorities and Health and Wellbeing Boards: Will have new responsibilities in planning and delivering support services, requiring additional resources and coordination.
• Government departments: Will be involved in developing and overseeing the national strategy, potentially impacting their budgets and workloads.
• Support service providers: May see increased demand for their services and need to adapt their offerings to align with the new strategies.
• Other agencies involved in safeguarding: Such as police, probation services, and NGOs, will be expected to contribute to the strategies through collaboration.

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