Fears Covid restrictions forcing Edinburgh sex workers into dangerous situations

Sex workers scared to comply with track and trace are being forced into dangerous situations to earn cash charities have warned.

Charities have warned the restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have sparked an 'explosion' in risky sex work.

Organisations representing sex workers have warned that they are facing an "impossible" choice to stay hidden over following covid-19 guidelines, while safer spaces like hotels are getting harder to access.

And the charities report a "massive explosion" of people getting into sex work, combined with fear of being identified, is forcing them to accept whatever work they can get no matter how risky.

It comes as Edinburgh’s network of sex saunas revealed they have seen a drop in business because clients are also reluctant to leave their contact details behind to comply with test and trace legislation.

Umbrella Lane, a charity which represents more than 500 sex workers in Scotland, said the regulations were confusing to sex workers and driving them more underground.

A support worker said: "People have no other choice but to make things more hidden, which comes with a host of risks including being isolated and more at risk of danger. This is one of the problems with the current brothel law- it is illegal for two sex workers to share a space, even if sharing that space would allow for a considerably higher level of security.

"Now that restrictions have been going on for a while and regulation is confusing, especially around sex work, workers are increasingly pressured to take what work they can.

"Sex workers do want to follow the guidelines and help stop spread of covid-19 but it's hard to do. There are a lot who are single mums or disabled people, and their fear of following the guidance is making them even more vulnerable - it's dangerous for them as well as their clients. They are taking more risks."

"It's a saturated market, so sex workers feel they have to take any work when they can get it rather than being safe in selecting clients or using spaces where they can be traced. Hotels are hard to access which adds to this problem and makes it harder for workers to find safe spaces."

Saunas in the Capital were shut overnight when lockdown restrictions began in March. Since they reopened in August when the restrictions on “close contact services” including personal therapists were eased, businesses have introduced a range of measures to protect sex workers and their clients and comply with government guidelines, including a ban on kissing, temperature checks and face masks for both parties.

One operator said: “We are open now, with permission, but it’s been very quiet. We sanitise the premises every hour, the rooms are kept spotless and everyone must wear PPE.”

But Umbrella Lane said workers feared being criminalised and found they are put off following guidance or using trackable spaces, because of growing stigma.

“Fears are amplified for our workers during this crisis. They are vulnerable and it's hard for them to trust services. The potential added surveillance and potential criminalisation under track and trace systems are understandably discouraging sex workers from downloading the app."

"The covid crisis has resulted in basic things like sex clinics being closed or having reduced hours. It's getting harder for them to get checks and support, despite the fact they are taking more risks."

A spokesperson for Scotpep, based in Edinburgh, said: "We've seen a massive increase in intolerant attitudes and people saying, we should just stop sex work. It's not that easy.

"There is more people getting into sex work, it has massively exploded. But we shouldn't treat it differently from other types of precarious work. Because the safety net for sex workers is even less."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “There is no legal basis for sharing test and protect data with

Police Scotland for the purpose of checking whether people are self-isolating, as there is no offence in relation to self-isolation of positive cases or contacts.

“The Scottish Government’s approach to self-isolation is to encourage and support people to comply, which includes sharing information with local authorities in order to enable them to contact individuals to ensure they have the financial, physical and mental health support that they need to comply.”

“Covid has changed everything”

Craig* (not his real name) a sex worker from Edinburgh, said he went from turning down work before covid-19 hit to having no clients during lockdown. In the last couple of months he has been desperate for money.

"I got into this while I was a post graduate student. It was better hours and money than bar or other types of casual work.

"But covid has changed everything. Since clients started getting back in touch, I just take anything I can get. Even if I get a bad feeling about it I can't turn them away.

"I used to filter them out and choose who I was comfortable with. But at the end of the day I have to put food on the table! The regulations are really confusing and I think, even if people's details can't legally be tracked back to them, people are just so scared of anything that risks their income right now. Charities have given us food vouchers, but getting access to any other money help is getting harder too."

Health Protection Scotland and Edinburgh City Council have been approached for comment.

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