Caught red handed: Policing the men buying sex on the street
Summary
In Bristol, police teams are focusing on reducing street-based sex work by targeting men who buy sex rather than the women involved. This approach aligns with the National Police Chiefs' Council's recommendation to safeguard women and hold men accountable for their actions.Key Facts
- The operation in Bristol is called Op Boss and has been active for 15 years.
- The police use plainclothes officers and surveillance to monitor and address illegal activities related to sex work.
- It is legal in the UK to pay for sex but illegal to engage in kerb crawling or public sex acts.
- The National Police Chiefs' Council recommends focusing on men rather than criminalizing vulnerable women involved in sex work.
- In an 18-month period, the team handled 145 offences and educated over 1,000 men to prevent reoffending.
- The team uses community protection warnings to deter men from returning to certain areas.
- Officers are trained to distinguish between safeguarding women and addressing the conduct of men buying sex.
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