A LIST OF SOME PROBLEMS FACED WHEN LOOKING AT ATTACKS AGAINST PROSTITUTES

External, social & political factors

Territory vulnerability

Street girls often move around dark secluded areas solo and getting into cars with unknown strangers they are also prey to pimps and attacks from other girls
Brothels may be less likely to report attacks in case of a bust
Escort girls (as with many other prostitutes) are keen to conceal their true identity slightly more so in the case of escorts due to professional backgrounds

Drug addiction (mostly found amongst the outdoor sector)

Makes for unreliable witnesses
Unpredictable behaviour of victim & possible witnesses
Drugs can then be used as defence for contributory factors towards cause of where the cause of death is undeterminable.
Can make the build of the victim slight and therefore more susceptible to attack or make self-defence difficult.

Disposal of body

Frequently in cases of murdered prostitutes the body of the girl goes missing, this is sometimes deliberate on the part of the attacker in a determined effort to hide the cause of death

How prostitutes are viewed by the rest of society

This can be reflected in general public’s attitude & lack of empathy
Media influence
Legal system currently as criminals although the current government are now trying to go too far the other way by labelling them as victims instead of accepting they can be either or both

A general unwillingness for co-operation of witnesses

Fear of reprisals
Fear of identity being revealed as prostitute and effect on families

Increased availability of knowledge by the attackers

Due to media & Internet; some ‘dodgy punters’ are aware of forensic and medical evidence and the detection thereof

The background of the prostitute

Can sometimes mean there is a propensity towards violence on her part and therefore it can be raised and used against her in defence of character

Illegal immigrant status

May mean the girl is totally unaccounted for
Little or no support
Possibly working under duress as a result of being trafficked