Public health policy must be based on sound evidence

Furthermore, it would be ineffective and dangerous. 3 Coercion of sex workers merely drives them further underground and alienates them from the services they need, leading to a breakdown in sexual health practices, and an increase in sexually transmitted infections. 4 The major health problems among sex workers are related to stigmatisation, to which this report contributes further. 1 Inaccurate and inflammatory statements such as these reported comments are likely to lead to increased levels of violence against them, as seen recently in Ipswich, and will even place outreach workers at risk.