Ottawa sex workers call police sting 'intimidating'

[Guido]

There are people working on ideas like this already. :good:

If the people within the industry that love the industry don't unite and fight I'm sure the feminists and the religious right wing will be ruining our pleasure and the escort's/Agencies income.

 

[j]

That must explain the difference of opinion amongst different SW populations about how intrusive/intimidating their visits were. Those working as part of a collective, and able to afford full-time lawyers had a pleasant, or at least a benign visit from the police, while others had a nerve-wracking time. The police themselves also likely knew the difference and had entirely different attitudes when visiting one type or the other.

I think it is as simple as the indy was alone, with no witnesses. The spa employees were not alone, and therefore had witnesses. There was no legit reason, for example, for them to decide to not send a female officer with the group visiting the indys, and leave it all male at the spas. It seemed the spa officers dealt with their visit in a professional personable manner, and the ones visiting the indys chose a more confrontational way. An assumption of antagonism on the part of the sp, in other words, that they might find in an outdoor (SW) worker, but unlikely to find in this situation.

I am surprised no one is commenting about the initiative in Toronto and areas, since according to the Ottawa press release, they were part of that huge task force across the nation lol. But then they claimed so was Edmonton, Calgary and NB and Nfld, also dead quiet. In fact two recent articles from Newfoundland and New Brunswick indicate the police chiefs don't plan to crack down on prostitution related 'crimes' any time soon, they can see them just being thrown out of court due to the SCC overturning those laws. With or without the additional year, it would be a waste of time and effort to do that.

 

[blackram]

I think it is as simple as the indy was alone, with no witnesses. The spa employees were not alone, and therefore had witnesses. There was no legit reason, for example, for them to decide to not send a female officer with the group visiting the indys, and leave it all male at the spas. It seemed the spa officers dealt with their visit in a professional personable manner, and the ones visiting the indys chose a more confrontational way. An assumption of antagonism on the part of the sp, in other words, that they might find in an outdoor (SW) worker, but unlikely to find in this situation.

Yeah, the witness factor also must've had something to do with it.

I am surprised no one is commenting about the initiative in Toronto and areas, since according to the Ottawa press release, they were part of that huge task force across the nation lol. But then they claimed so was Edmonton, Calgary and NB and Nfld, also dead quiet. In fact two recent articles from Newfoundland and New Brunswick indicate the police chiefs don't plan to crack down on prostitution related 'crimes' any time soon, they can see them just being thrown out of court due to the SCC overturning those laws. With or without the additional year, it would be a waste of time and effort to do that.

Yup, I've been telling this exact same thing to the various ladies who have asked me about it too. The ones involved in forums like this are pretty activist, so they already know all this, but other girls are not quite up on the facts, and they aren't even sure what the recent ruling by the SCC was about. I've told them that even though the existing laws have been given a 1 year extension till the government comes up with new laws, the chances that any police force will press any charges under the existing laws is nil, it'll get thrown out of court instantly, extension or not.

As for problems in other jurisdictions, I've heard about some problems in Kingston too. Also here's a report from Halifax talking about the same thing.

Sex worker support group condemns police operation as rights violation - Halifax | Globalnews.ca

I think maybe the Ottawa operation has gotten more publicity than any of the other ones, but it's probably just the tip of the iceberg.