Right now in Sweden:
A sex worker and her boyfriend live together. When she has an incall the boyfriend leaves the apartment. Now he is charged with pimping for allegedly "keeping guard" while waiting outside. They both got evicted from the apartment. He might get jail time.
From this we learn:
1. Sex workers in Sweden are in practice prohibited from having romantic relationships.
2. Helping a sex worker stay safe in any way can put you in jail.
3. Doing incalls can get you evicted even though many sex workers feel it's their safest option.
Sex workers in Sweden are being threatened and doxed if they don't agree to quit sex work. It doesn't matter that it's "technically legal" to sell sex if any stranger can destroy your life by reporting your sex work to your landlord, social services, police, or other authorities.
It's shocking to us that police DON'T want sex workers to be able to call their partner or friend or use them as security. This is one of the first pieces of advice we tell our new members: always let someone know where you are and call afterwards to let them know you are safe.
Worth noting is that the boyfriend in question was NOT actually acting as security. Even though this might have been a good option for her, the couple decided against it to not risk him getting in trouble. He was simply taking a walk around the block before returning home.
Obviously not shocked as in surprised. Making sex work as difficult as possible is one of the stated aims of the law and of the police work surrounding it.
Our member Rita is a farmer, mother, wife and sex worker who specialises in domination. When her kids are at school she sees clients for BDSM sessions in her studio which is on her own property. A few days ago, the police came into Rita’s home and forced her to come with them.
Summary in English:
A sex worker traveling to the north of Sweden kept getting fake bookings from the local police. Twice they turned up at her hotel room to ask her questions, each time she politely told them she does sex work voluntary and that it’s her job.
Last week, one of our members, a middle aged Swedish woman who lives in a south Swedish town, was visited by the police. They told her that her landlord had been informed that she is selling sex in her apartment. And that she will be evicted if she doesn’t stop immediately.
Rita is convinced the main reason for this police raid and the questionings is to scare and humiliate her and to stop her from doing sex work. People abroad seem to think that our law only targets clients but in fact, a big part of the police work is to intimidate sex workers.
Now a sex worker has been charged with pimping for driving herself and her friends between two Swedish cities and for posting ads for duos. Is this really what we want? A Sweden where sex workers aren't allowed to travel by car together? We are supposed to walk instead?
The police had taken for granted that her husband was the dominant part and was abusing her with the implements and forcing her to have sex for money!!!
This idea, that all sex workers are forced victims is prevalent in Sweden after 20 years with the sex purchase law :(
