Purpose

This reports requests Cabinet’s approval
of the Council’s proposed ten-year Newham Sex Work Strategy
2025-2035 (appendix A) and the accompanying first year action plan
(appendix B).
 
The strategy and accompanying annual action
plan provide a framework for a public health approach to addressing
the impact of sex work in Newham, which acknowledges that an
effective response requires a multi-agency whole community
approach.  The strategy builds upon work
carried out to date by the Council and its partners and provides
the framework and shift required to adopt a Public Health whole
borough community response to sex work.
 
Cabinet is recommended to agree:
• 
That the Council adopts the Newham Sex Work Strategy 2025-2035 and
accompanying Newham Sex Work Strategy Action Plan and their
content, noting that the final versions will be enhanced into
accessible and visually appealing documents for residents and
professionals. 
 
• 
Approve the use of five high level outcomes which will be used to
measure the effectiveness of the strategy and action plan on a
quarterly basis.
o 
Crime - A reduction in total notifiable offences in the five wards
with the highest levels of offences. 
These wards will be reviewed annually.
o 
Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) Reports - A
reduction in reports of ASB in the five wards with the highest
levels of offences.  These wards will be
reviewed annually.
o 
Perceptions of Safety on estates – Following an initial
benchmarking exercise of perceptions of safety on the part of both
residents and sex workers there will be an annual measurement of
changes in perception 
o 
Numbers of sex workers engaging with the Alessia Project and other service areas
o 
Outcomes of engagement with the Alessia
Project across a validated tool with measures taken at
commencement, during and at the end of engagement.

Decision

Decision
 
For the reasons set
out in the report and its appendices Cabinet RESOLVED to Agree:
 

i) 
That the Council adopts the Newham Sex Work Strategy 2025-2035 and
accompanying Newham Sex Work Strategy Action Plan and their
content, noting that the final versions will be enhanced into
accessible and visually appealing documents for residents and
professionals.

ii) 
To approve the use of five high level outcomes which will be used
to measure the effectiveness of the strategy and action plan on a
quarterly basis.

 · Crime -
A reduction in total notifiable offences in the five wards with the
highest levels of offences. These wards will be reviewed annually.
· Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) Reports - A
reduction in reports of ASB in the five wards with the highest
levels of offences. These wards will be reviewed annually.

· Perceptions of Safety on estates –
Following an initial benchmarking exercise of perceptions of safety
on the part of both residents and sex workers there will be an
annual measurement of changes in perception

· Numbers of sex workers engaging with the
Alessia Project and other service areas

· Outcomes of engagement with the Alessia
Project across a validated tool with measures taken at
commencement, during and at the end of engagement.
 
Alternatives
Considered
 
N/A