FiLiA meets: Sam Walshe

Sam Walshe speaks about the impact of being exploited into street prostitution as a teenager and having disclosable criminal records. She participated in a legal case brought by three women (including Fiona Broadfoot) formerly involved in prostitution, which challenged the Government’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Regulations. After an unhappy childhood marred with violence and sexual abuse, Sam was exploited into prostitution at the age of 14. She was trafficked between Bristol and London on the streets, in brothels, massage parlours and escort agencies. By the time she escaped her pimp she was hooked on crack and heroin and remained on the streets to feed her habit. Sam has been drug free for 14 years and off the streets for the same time. She has 2 children and helps at a support project that works with sexually exploited women.

Sam spoke at FiLiA in 2019 on the Issue of Criminal Records for Prostituted Women.

Read about the legal case at the Centre for Women’s Justice.

Find out more information on the 2018 ruling.