Escort & Sex Industry Advocates UK
Introduction In England and Wales, the consensual sale and purchase of sexual services among adults is considered legal. The United Kingdom is estimated to have a sex worker population ranging from 60,000 to 80,000 individuals, with the majority being women. These sex workers operate in various settings, including street-based work and indoor establishments, which have become more common.
Key facts
- Approximately 11% of British men aged 16-74 have engaged in paid sexual services at least once, amounting to around 2.3 million individuals.
- The estimated number of sex workers in the UK is around 72,800, with approximately 32,000 working in London.
- Sex workers typically have an average of 25 clients per week, with each visit costing an average of £78.
- Between 1990 and 2015, an estimated 152 sex workers were victims of homicide. Additionally, a survey revealed that 49% of sex workers expressed concerns about their safety.
- In 2014, there were 1,139 reported cases of trafficking for sexual exploitation, and between April and June 2015, 248 cases were reported following the implementation of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Violent rapes against sex workers often go unreported, and unfortunately, there have been tragic instances of murders targeting sex workers in recent times. The inherent dangers in the sex industry leave those involved vulnerable to abuse and attacks. As organizations and individuals, it is our responsibility to protect vulnerable individuals within our communities. This responsibility drives the work being done in the North East area.
Engagement and Safeguarding of Sex Workers Conference' Escort Groups Shine collaborates with Changing Lives, the police, and other partner agencies to provide group support to women working in the adult sex industry across the North East region.
These groups create a safe space for women to discuss their sexual health needs, clients, and any issues affecting them. Sex workers often face judgment and harassment, and at Shine, we believe it's important to offer support to all women, ensuring they are aware of their rights and the law.
Whether you work for an agency or as an independent sex worker, Shine provides confidential support without judgment. We offer both group sessions and one-on-one support. Shine also provides free resources, such as sexual health sessions, condoms, dams, lubricants (this list is not exhaustive), and advice.
Please call 0191 277 2050 or email [email protected] to find out how we can assist you.
National Ugly Mugs (NUM) National Ugly Mugs (NUM) is a groundbreaking national organization that aims to increase access to justice and protection for sex workers who are often targeted by dangerous individuals but are reluctant to report these incidents to the police.
These offenders are often serial sexual predators who pose a significant risk to the general public.
History of NUM The Ugly Mugs schemes was first introduced in Victoria, Australia, in 1986 by the Prostitutes Collective. They realized that sharing descriptions of dangerous individuals and situations could warn other sex workers. Although local schemes have existed in the UK for many years, NUM is the world's first national scheme. The Home Office awarded funding to the UK Network of Sex Work Projects (UKNSWP) for a pilot scheme to operate for 12 months from April 2012, and the scheme went live for 9 months from July 2012.
There are several reasons for implementing Ugly Mugs schemes. Sex workers in certain sectors frequently experience violence and other crimes at the hands of individuals posing as clients. Moreover, sex workers often hesitate to make formal complaints to the police, resulting in underreported cases of violence. It is essential to identify offenders, as they may target other sex workers. Studies have shown that men who murder sex workers often have a history of violence against them and others.
Mission: Ending Violence Against Sex Workers
Values: Advocating for and upholding the human rights of sex workers, including:
- The right to self-determination.
- The right to live free from violence.
- The right to live free from intimidation, coercion, or exploitation.
- The right to work in the safest possible environment.
- The right to police protection.
What they do: NUM receives incident reports from sex workers and creates anonymized warnings sent directly to sex workers and frontline support projects throughout the UK (including SHINE, which receives these reports).
With consent, they share anonymous intelligence with the police.
They support sex workers in making comprehensive reports to the police to identify, apprehend, and convict perpetrators.
They ensure that sex workers have access to professional services when they become victims of crimes.
Their Aims
- To enhance the safety of sex workers.
- To prevent crime.
- To bring more offenders who target sex workers to justice.
- To assist sex workers in accessing frontline services.
- To increase the reporting of crimes against sex workers to the police.
- To enhance the overall intelligence available in the UK about dangerous criminals.
Visit the NUM website, please follow the link below:
http://www.shinewomen.co.uk/adult-sex-industry
Website: https://uglymugs.org/um/To become a member and receive alerts
Visit the following website: https://uglymugs.org/um/wp-login.php?action=register
Click on "Join" in the top menu, which will take you to the registration form.
Complete the form and select the type of membership you require.
If you wish to receive alerts via SMS or email, provide your contact information in the appropriate field.
After submitting your registration, you will receive a password.
Your membership will be manually processed, and you will be notified once your application is approved. You can then log in using your username and the password provided. Please note that usernames and passwords are case-sensitive.