The Metropolitan Police is piloting a new two-officer female team in north London to engage with street sex workers. The initiative aims to improve trust and encourage them to report crimes committed against them, following failings highlighted by the Simon Levy case.
Officers involved in the new Met scheme, Operation Amicus, described hearing about endemic levels of male violence against women identified as involved in street-based sex work in the area. One officer stated that every woman they met had reported being attacked in some way.
The Met has acknowledged a need to change its approach and move away from criminalising women involved in street sex work. Supt Rob Gibbs said that women often get stuck in the criminal justice system for minor offences, which can lead to more sex working.