Sex workers calls for police powers pause amid major shake-up of sector after QLRC review

Queensland police should put a pause on the use of covert powers on sex workers while the state government irons out laws to decriminalise the sector, campaigners say.

Police should put a pause on the use of covert powers on sex workers while the state government irons out laws to decriminalise the sector, campaigners have said.

But Queensland Police have signalled they aren’t about to budge, pointing to their obligations to stick to the laws as they stand.

A landmark Queensland Law Reform Commission blueprint to decriminalise sex work called for police to be purged of sex work-specific powers, including covert methods like posing as clients to gather evidence of offences.

The report revealed current police powers “create a strong sense of fear and mistrust” and acted as a barrier to worker safety and access to justice and human rights.

And this was a “major reason” behind reluctance among sex workers to report crimes to police. The state government is “broadly supportive” of the QLRC’s 47 sweeping recommendations to decriminalise sex work, which includes removing advertising restrictions and treating the sector like another business.

Campaigners DecrimQLD confirmed they had called for a commitment from Queensland Police and the Police Minister since the QLRC review was announced in August 2021 for a pause in the use of its sector specific powers.

Data shows police brought on 105 prostitution-related charges in 2022, the highest yearly count since 2017.

Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman this week said any pause on the use of police powers between now and sex work becoming officially decriminalised through legislation was a matter for the police commissioner.

A Queensland Police spokesman said it was “obligated to investigate offences against Queensland legislation, this includes illegal prostitution”.

“The QPS is committed to protecting the safety of all sex workers working within the industry and community,” he said. “Matters are investigated utilising lawful methodologies. It is not appropriate to release specific details of methodologies and ongoing police investigations into illegal prostitution and offences involving sexual servitude.”

The QLRC report noted under current law sex workers outside brothel settings must work alone and “undercover policing strategies could create potential risks or corruption or exploitation”.

“Many sex workers view the use of police powers to impersonate clients as a violation of privacy and bodily integrity or an abuse of power,” the report states.