Partnerships & Communities Together (PACT): policing, street sex work and the limits of community engagement. Dr Tracey Sagar & Debbie Jones Centre for Criminal Justice & Criminology. Swansea University.

Locating PACT in developing Policing models & programmes (i) The National Reassurance Policing Programme (NRPP). Three key activities to successful Neighbourhood Policing 1. Dedicated neighbourhood teams 2. Identification of community concerns 3. Joint action & problem solving Review of Policing (2008)- community safety at heart of local partnership working Neighbourhood Policing Programme 1. Increased PCSO’s 2. Access to information & point of contact 3. Shaping responses to locally identified problems

Locating PACT in developing Policing models & programmes (ii) National Policing Plan ( ) ‘Building Communities Beating Crime’ (2004)- citizen focused policing. Problem Orientated Policing model Sec 5&6 Crime & Disorder Act

Considering PACT in the context of the Policing of Street Sex Work in Wales. Why? 1. Little current research in Wales focusing on sex work control. 2.Multi-agency cooperation and consultation remains underdeveloped. 3. Despite the requirements of Crime & Disorder Act 1998, little change in policing of street sex work in Wales. But PACT has potential to steer police resources to target local priorities and fill the ‘gap’. And Home Office Coordinated Strategy

Methods  Case Study design  Self selecting  Non participant observations-6 month period  Contemporaneous notes taken- cross checked  Data produced 26 codes 1. Structural/situational observations 2. PACT priorities and local issues 3. Police/partners and community engagement 4. Engaging the wider community

Case Study- Structural & situational observations  Simple format- 3 priorities police aim to address in four weeks (Lancashire model)  Two venues  Meetings every six weeks hence the majority of residents who attend do so every three months.  Demographics- attendance 11-15, slightly more males, aggregate age of men & women majority between 60-70yrs, (only 5 residents under 50), 4 attendees believed to be Asian or mixed race.  Police/Partners- 1 Sergeant, 1-2 Constables, 1-2 PCSO’s, 1Police staff member. Three local Councillors.  Formal setting

Priorities & issues (i)  PACT – signal crimes perspective  Common priorities 1. Alcohol or drug use 2. Litter & dog fouling 3. Criminal damage 4. Speeding 5. Parking & nuisance vehicles 6. ASB & juvenile nuisance And in this case study prostitution

Priorities & issues (ii). A lack of ‘fit’? Questions raised about time taken to resolve problems- ‘on-going’. Sergeant “prostitution has been a continuing priority for the last three years”…. “Prostitution will not get resolved in a six week period-it’s not an ideal issue….” Static priorities. Lack of consultation- prostitution strategy

Police/ Partners & community engagement  PACT has the capacity to improve relations – “ I have attended tonight with the sole purpose of thanking the police and local councillors…”  Accountability of Police/partners rarely questioned  Reassurance to communities Explanations for failure to resolve issues summarised by “We are doing all we can but ……….” o Intelligence gathering empowering the community, “all we need is the community to tell us who, where and what”. o Police led- police set priorities. Rubber stamping??

Wider community engagement “PACT process is a platform from which it can develop to engage citizens including those from hard to reach communities” (HMIC, 2007) Findings PACT does not extend to hard to reach groups such as sex workers. PACT is not the right model to engage with sex workers or outreach workers Little evidence of discussion with community about alternatives/safe working practises for sex workers.

Conclusion  Provides a forum for ‘narrow’ community engagement  Rubber stamping  Lack of consultation  Little attempt to engage hard to reach groups  Street sex work should not be tackled via PACT in its current form  The engagement process is symbolic and tokenistic  Community consultation gap  Considering street sex work under the PACT model fails to enhance customer satisfaction or improve confidence in Policing.