Latest news with #NightLight
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Caught red handed: Policing the men buying sex
WARNING: This article contains details of a sexual nature. If you have been affected by anything in this story, help can be found at the BBC Action line. The commercial sex industry is highly complex, with debate on how to police the issue. In Bristol, dedicated teams are engaging with street sex workers whilst disrupting kerb crawlers. Their aim is to combat night-time exploitation and harm, focusing on criminalising the men, rather than the women. Now BBC West Investigations has been given exclusive access to witness the impact of their work. It's nine o'clock on a bitterly cold Monday evening and as temperatures dip below freezing, we are heading out with the Op Boss and Night Light police teams. The streets are quieter than usual, but travelling in an unmarked police car we come across a number of women working on the streets. We're with Op Boss officers Siggi Gilleburg and Jordan Daruvalla, who are constantly keeping an eye out for potential "exchanges". Shortly after leaving, we're alerted to a man seen heading into the bushes with a known sex worker. We're in a residential part of Bristol, with a children's play area right next to it. Not necessarily the sort of place you'd expect sex work to be happening. The man is pretty shocked to see us, but quickly accepts he was in the wrong. "Caught red handed I guess," he says. Loitering with a street sex worker is considered anti-social behaviour and he is issued with a community protection warning that will stay in place for 12 months. This restricts the areas where he can go and he could face criminal action if he continues to go into them. It is legal in the UK for a person to buy sexual services or be a sex worker. But associated activities such as kerb crawling, having sex in public and a sex worker loitering in a street or public place are illegal. While some police forces still target women for loitering, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) now recommends not criminalising the women - who are often vulnerable - and instead targeting the men. This is the idea behind Op Boss, which has been running for 15 years in Bristol and was an early adopter of the NPCC's Nordic Model approach to policing sex work. "We go out about 10 police officers in plain clothes under a directed surveillance authority," explains Rose Brown, an Avon and Somerset Police sex work liaison officer. "We have someone who's monitoring what's going on in the red-light area from CCTV and we primarily take the Nordic approach - so we look to safeguard the women and disrupt the men who are coming into the area to purchase sex." In an 18-month period, 145 offences have been dealt with by the Op Boss team. More than 1,000 men have been sent on a course to prevent reoffending and to learn about the women's vulnerabilities since Op Boss started. Across an eight-month period we spent seven shifts with the Op Boss and Night Light teams and encountered men of all ages from all walks of life. On another night with the team, we were alerted to a man on a bike spotted talking to a sex worker before heading towards some trees on the edge of a park. In keeping with the project, the officers spoke to the woman who was then free to go – and they instead targeted the man. It was clear he was pretty shaken by what happened and told me: "I wonder what I'd done wrong." He was adamant he didn't realise the woman was a sex worker - although the woman told police that a sexual service had been agreed, before he changed his mind. He was issued with a community protection warning for anti-social behaviour and said he wouldn't be returning to the area any time soon. And it's not just men on their own out on the prowl. On one of the shifts the team was alerted to a group of three men, seen talking to a sex worker who then got into their car. By the time we arrived, the car was steaming up. It turned out to be three university students – one had agreed to pay for sex, encouraged by his two friends. Siggi explained it was not uncommon to come across students buying sex. This tactic of disrupting and criminalising the men though is not how all police forces work. "Avon and Somerset have been sort of the national lead in relation to taking a safeguarding approach to the women," Rose said. "And our relationship has really come on leaps and bounds with the women." Before every patrol, the Op Boss and Night Light teams have a briefing at the station. They also pack warm clothes, hot drinks and food. These, as well as other supplies like condoms, rape alarms and other safety devices, will be given out to the sex workers the team talk to while on patrol. The Night Light team is a collaboration between the police, children's charity Barnardo's and the city council. Working alongside Op Boss, Night Light offers support and seeks information from the street workers about any young people at risk. Travelling around the city with Night Light's Rose and Jo Ritchie, a Barnardo's social worker, the trust between the team and the women is clear to see. Not long into a shift we encounter a woman on a street corner. She tells Rose and Jo about a man who has been talking about raping children in Thailand and they ask for his description. It is these insights and intelligence that are helping the project's success. Jo and Rose offer another woman a drink and ask her if she has seen any children on the street. "If I've seen young ones, I will tell you because you know... When I was like about 13, 14, I was out here. I shouldn't have been. I was underage and it shouldn't have happened," she says. The woman's experience is shared by many. "Time and time again, we hear them say, 'I wish this had been running when I was a kid, because perhaps I wouldn't be out here now'," Jo tells us. I ask Jo and Rose how they've worked on building trust over time, particularly when the relationship between street sex workers and the police has been difficult in the past. "I think probably it's because it's consistent faces going out and they trust us," Rose explains. "This project's really helped to break down those barriers." Dan Vajzovic, the NPCC lead for the policing of sex work, says Avon and Somerset's work is "exemplary". "We're trying to develop an approach that recognises the vulnerability of many of the women who sell sex on the streets... and target serious criminals as well as improving the safety of sex workers. "The success in Bristol speaks for itself and it would be great to see this replicated across all forces in England and Wales." Representatives from a number of other police forces have been out with the teams in Bristol in the hope of setting up similar approaches to Op Boss and Night Light. And at a time when there's been such a spotlight on violence against women and girls and how to tackle it, it couldn't be more timely. Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: westinvestigations@ or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. How street sex workers are helping police stop child abuse Increase in vulnerable women selling sex on the street Sex worker charity confirms two services to close Avon and Somerset Police
BBC News
10-05-2025
- BBC News
Caught red handed: Policing the men buying sex on Bristol's streets
WARNING: This article contains details of a sexual nature. If you have been affected by anything in this story, help can be found at the BBC Action line. The commercial sex industry is highly complex, with debate on how to police the issue. In Bristol, dedicated teams are engaging with street sex workers whilst disrupting kerb crawlers. Their aim is to combat night-time exploitation and harm, focusing on criminalising the men, rather than the women. Now BBC West Investigations has been given exclusive access to witness the impact of their work. It's nine o'clock on a bitterly cold Monday evening and as temperatures dip below freezing, we are heading out with the Op Boss and Night Light police streets are quieter than usual, but travelling in an unmarked police car we come across a number of women working on the with Op Boss officers Siggi Gilleburg and Jordan Daruvalla, who are constantly keeping an eye out for potential "exchanges".Shortly after leaving, we're alerted to a man seen heading into the bushes with a known sex in a residential part of Bristol, with a children's play area right next to it. Not necessarily the sort of place you'd expect sex work to be man is pretty shocked to see us, but quickly accepts he was in the wrong."Caught red handed I guess," he with a street sex worker is considered anti-social behaviour and he is issued with a community protection warning that will stay in place for 12 restricts the areas where he can go and he could face criminal action if he continues to go into them. It is legal in the UK for a person to buy sexual services or be a sex worker. But associated activities such as kerb crawling, having sex in public and a sex worker loitering in a street or public place are some police forces still target women for loitering, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) now recommends not criminalising the women - who are often vulnerable - and instead targeting the is the idea behind Op Boss, which has been running for 15 years in Bristol and was an early adopter of the NPCC's Nordic Model approach to policing sex work."We go out about 10 police officers in plain clothes under a directed surveillance authority," explains Rose Brown, an Avon and Somerset Police sex work liaison officer."We have someone who's monitoring what's going on in the red-light area from CCTV and we primarily take the Nordic approach - so we look to safeguard the women and disrupt the men who are coming into the area to purchase sex."In an 18-month period, 145 offences have been dealt with by the Op Boss team. More than 1,000 men have been sent on a course to prevent reoffending and to learn about the women's vulnerabilities since Op Boss started. Across an eight-month period we spent seven shifts with the Op Boss and Night Light teams and encountered men of all ages from all walks of another night with the team, we were alerted to a man on a bike spotted talking to a sex worker before heading towards some trees on the edge of a park. In keeping with the project, the officers spoke to the woman who was then free to go – and they instead targeted the was clear he was pretty shaken by what happened and told me: "I wonder what I'd done wrong."He was adamant he didn't realise the woman was a sex worker - although the woman told police that a sexual service had been agreed, before he changed his was issued with a community protection warning for anti-social behaviour and said he wouldn't be returning to the area any time soon. And it's not just men on their own out on the one of the shifts the team was alerted to a group of three men, seen talking to a sex worker who then got into their the time we arrived, the car was steaming turned out to be three university students – one had agreed to pay for sex, encouraged by his two explained it was not uncommon to come across students buying tactic of disrupting and criminalising the men though is not how all police forces work."Avon and Somerset have been sort of the national lead in relation to taking a safeguarding approach to the women," Rose said."And our relationship has really come on leaps and bounds with the women." Before every patrol, the Op Boss and Night Light teams have a briefing at the station. They also pack warm clothes, hot drinks and as well as other supplies like condoms, rape alarms and other safety devices, will be given out to the sex workers the team talk to while on Night Light team is a collaboration between the police, children's charity Barnardo's and the city alongside Op Boss, Night Light offers support and seeks information from the street workers about any young people at around the city with Night Light's Rose and Jo Ritchie, a Barnardo's social worker, the trust between the team and the women is clear to long into a shift we encounter a woman on a street tells Rose and Jo about a man who has been talking about raping children in Thailand and they ask for his is these insights and intelligence that are helping the project's success. Jo and Rose offer another woman a drink and ask her if she has seen any children on the street."If I've seen young ones, I will tell you because you know... When I was like about 13, 14, I was out here. I shouldn't have been. I was underage and it shouldn't have happened," she woman's experience is shared by many."Time and time again, we hear them say, 'I wish this had been running when I was a kid, because perhaps I wouldn't be out here now'," Jo tells us.I ask Jo and Rose how they've worked on building trust over time, particularly when the relationship between street sex workers and the police has been difficult in the past."I think probably it's because it's consistent faces going out and they trust us," Rose explains."This project's really helped to break down those barriers." Dan Vajzovic, the NPCC lead for the policing of sex work, says Avon and Somerset's work is "exemplary"."We're trying to develop an approach that recognises the vulnerability of many of the women who sell sex on the streets... and target serious criminals as well as improving the safety of sex workers."The success in Bristol speaks for itself and it would be great to see this replicated across all forces in England and Wales."Representatives from a number of other police forces have been out with the teams in Bristol in the hope of setting up similar approaches to Op Boss and Night at a time when there's been such a spotlight on violence against women and girls and how to tackle it, it couldn't be more timely.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
How street sex workers are helping police stop child abuse
WARNING: This article contains details of a sexual nature and child sex abuse. If you have been affected by anything in this story, help can be found at the BBC Action line. As darkness falls, street sex workers are helping police and a charity to protect a city's most at-risk children. Often the eyes and ears after dark, the women have been providing vital information on child exploitation to the Night Light initiative in Bristol and helping to bring child sex offenders to justice. "If you think there's a chance you're leaving a child in that position, you've got to stay. You've got to find out." Anna, whose real identity the BBC is protecting, is in her 50s and worked on the streets of Bristol over a 30-year period. She says she is now "retired", but has been key to the success of a unique project helping to put dangerous criminals in prison. On one occasion a man, who was paying her for sex, asked her to engage in role-play, where she had to pretend to be a primary school age girl. "It was really unpleasant. Sickening to be honest," she said. "I had to carry on for three months, but I couldn't walk away until I knew what was happening." After reporting her concerns to the police, it turned out the man was abusing his eight-year-old daughter. Anna testified against him in court and he has now been sent to prison. In another case, a man showed her child abuse photos on his phone so horrific she could not watch but reported him to the authorities and he is now awaiting trial. "You can't not do something about that," she said. "I see that kid's face every time I shut my eyes." The street sex workers are vital eyes and ears after dark [BBC] The sex workers are not only helping to catch child abusers, but also helping to identify children at risk of exploitation and get underage girls off the streets. "The streets are scary. They are dark, they are lonely," Megan, not her real name, said. "For underage women, like just so young, children, to be going through whatever they are going through, wherever they are, I can't bear to imagine." Megan is one of those working with Avon and Somerset Police and children's charity Barnardo's Night Light team - providing them with vital intelligence about the children she sees after dark. "My hectic day-to-day lifestyle [as a sex worker] is troubling, exhausting, and very miserable, to just have that little bit of positivity brought through something I have achieved and done personally, is great. It makes me feel proud," she said. Night Light started in 2020 during the Covid lockdowns. The streets had become quieter, exposing the children who were at risk of being exploited, hanging around in the part of Bristol where sex is bought and sold. Yas (left) told the BBC she no longer hangs out on the streets [BBC] Paige, not her real name, was vulnerable and just 15 when she was spotted with her sister. She told the BBC that at the time, she wasn't aware of the danger she could be in. "We were out because we didn't want to be at home, as we thought being out at night was safer than home," Paige said. Forced on to the street she was approached by men being "nice", offering her food, drinks or lifts and getting into their cars. "I didn't think I was at risk, but looking back now I see things a lot differently," she said. Paige and her sister initially ran away from the Night Light team on at least two occasions. But identified as being at risk of sexual exploitation, the team eventually caught up with her and explained the danger she was in. Paige has now been placed in a foster home. Now 19, Yas - not her real name - has also been helped by the team. "They [men] would ask me if I wanted go to their place and if I want any drink or like they'd offer me balloons [nitrous oxide]," she said. "Back then I couldn't see why they were asking that. I thought they just wanted to have fun, in like the innocent way, but now I've realised they were probably asking me to go back so that I would have sex with them." Now supported by Night Light, Yas said thinking about the situation she was in makes her feel "creeped out" and scared for other young people. The potential and benefits of using street sex workers to help stop child exploitation was first realised by Jo Ritchie, a social worker employed by Barnardo's. She now works closely with Rose Brown, a sex work liaison officer from Avon and Somerset Police, as well as Bristol City Council. Jo recalled one of the first women she spoke to, saying her knowledge was so good it was like she was part of the police investigation. "She knew everything. But what was really sad, was at the end, she said 'but what can I do? I'm just a sex worker'. "And that really struck me. I really felt, actually, we could really do with your help." In 2024 the Night Light team had 124 conversations with street sex workers – who have made 65 reports about dangerous men and highlighted around 20 young people at risk of exploitation. The Night Light team patrol Bristol's roads talking to sex workers and young people [BBC] The trust that has built up between the sex workers and the Night Light team has been key to its success. As well as talking to them about children they have seen on the streets and dangerous offenders, they also offer the women support, food, clothing and a supportive ear. Rose said that since the project started five years ago, they have seen huge progress. "We're getting a massive increase in the women sharing about their own experiences of being sexually assaulted, as well as worries about children," she said. "It isn't rocket science. It is just investing that time in building those relationships." Jo Ritchie, who works for Barnardos, said the sex workers are "the most passionate advocates" for the scheme [BBC] Because many of the women have been sexually assaulted themselves, they are keen to prevent young people from going through similar experiences, Jo said. "Time and time again, we hear them say, 'I wish this had been running when I was a kid, because perhaps I wouldn't be out here now'," she added. "I think they're probably the most passionate advocates... they really don't want to see children on the streets." Megan, 34, doesn't want to be working on Bristol's streets for long, but while she is, she said she is proud to have helped safeguard other girls. "The underage thing is something I really feel strongly about," she said. "There's a bad stigma about sex workers, drugs... but we're not bad people." 'Highest risk children' Night Light is proving so successful in Bristol, that other parts of the country are now looking to roll the project out. And Rose and Jo are both very clear, Night Light would not exist without the women, and hope it helps to challenge the narrative around street sex workers. "They're incredible," Jo said. "We are totally dependent on them. We've identified children at risk, who are out on the streets, who we weren't aware of, because of them. "And that's really one of the key things about Night Light, the children they are pointing us towards are probably some of the highest risk children, but yet they are often really hidden." Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: westinvestigations@ or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Related internet links
BBC News
06-05-2025
- BBC News
Bristol street sex workers help police to stop child abuse
How street sex workers are helping police stop child abuse Just now Share Save Rachel Stonehouse BBC West Investigations Reporting from Bristol Emma Hallett BBC West Investigations Share Save Megan, not her real name and with her back to the camera, has been working with the police to help identify children at risk and prosecute criminals WARNING: This article contains details of a sexual nature and child sex abuse. If you have been affected by anything in this story, help can be found at the BBC Action line. As darkness falls, street sex workers are helping police and a charity to protect a city's most at-risk children. Often the eyes and ears after dark, the women have been providing vital information on child exploitation to the Night Light initiative in Bristol and helping to bring child sex offenders to justice. "If you think there's a chance you're leaving a child in that position, you've got to stay. You've got to find out." Anna, whose real identity the BBC is protecting, is in her 50s and worked on the streets of Bristol over a 30 year period. She says she is now "retired", but has been key to the success of a unique project helping to put dangerous criminals in prison. On one occasion a man, who was paying her for sex, asked her to engage in role-play, where she had to pretend to be a primary school age girl. "It was really unpleasant. Sickening to be honest," she said. "I had to carry on for three months, but I couldn't walk away until I knew what was happening." After reporting her concerns to the police, it turned out the man was abusing his eight-year-old daughter. Anna testified against him in court and he has now been sent to prison. In another case, a man showed her child abuse photos on his phone so horrific she could not watch but reported him to the authorities and he is now awaiting trial. "You can't not do something about that," she said. "I see that kid's face every time I shut my eyes." The street sex workers are vital eyes and ears after dark The sex workers are not only helping to catch child abusers, but also helping to identify children at risk of exploitation and get underage girls off the streets. "The streets are scary. They are dark, they are lonely," Megan, not her real name, said. "For underage women, like just so young, children, to be going through whatever they are going through, wherever they are, I can't bear to imagine." Megan is one of those working with Avon and Somerset Police and children's charity Barnardo's Night Light team - providing them with vital intelligence about the children she sees after dark. "My hectic day to day lifestyle [as a sex worker] is troubling, exhausting, and very miserable, to just have that little bit of positivity brought through something I have achieved and done personally, is great. It makes me feel proud," she said. Night Light started in 2020 during the Covid lockdowns. The streets had become quieter, exposing the children who were at risk of being exploited, hanging around in the part of Bristol where sex is bought and sold. Yas (left) told the BBC she no longer hangs out on the streets Paige, not her real name, was vulnerable and just 15-years-old when she was spotted with her sister. She told the BBC that at the time, she wasn't aware of the danger she could be in. "We were out because we didn't want to be at home, as we thought being out at night was safer than home," Paige said. Forced onto the street she was approached by men being "nice", offering her food, drinks or lifts and getting into their cars. "I didn't think I was at risk, but looking back now I see things a lot differently," she said. Paige and her sister initially ran away from the Night Light team on at least two occasions. But identified as being at risk of sexual exploitation, the team eventually caught up with her and explained the danger she was in. Paige has now been placed in a foster home. Now 19-years-old, Yas - also not her real name - has also been helped by the team. "They [men] would ask me if I wanted go to their place and if I want any drink or like they'd offer me balloons [nitrous oxide]," she said. "Back then I couldn't see why they were asking that. I thought they just wanted to have fun, in like the innocent way, but now I've realised they were probably asking me to go back so that I would have sex with them." Now supported by Night Light, Yas said thinking about the situation she was in makes her feel "creeped out" and scared for other young people. Rose Brown (left) and Jo Ritchie have spent time building up the trust of the women The potential and benefits of using street sex workers to help stop child exploitation was first realised by Jo Ritchie, a social worker employed by Barnardo's. She now works closely with Rose Brown, a sex work liaison officer from Avon and Somerset Police, as well as Bristol City Council. Jo recalled one of the first women she spoke to, saying her knowledge was so good it was like she was part of the police investigation. "She knew everything. But what was really sad, was at the end, she said 'but what can I do? I'm just a sex worker.' "And that really struck me. I really felt, actually, we could really do with your help." In 2024 the Night Light team had 124 conversations with street sex workers – who have made 65 reports about dangerous men and highlighted around 20 young people at risk of exploitation. The Night Light team patrol Bristol's roads talking to sex workers and young people The trust that has built up between the sex workers and the Night Light team has been key to its success. As well as talking to them about children they have seen on the streets and dangerous offenders, they also offer the women support, food, clothing and a supportive ear. Rose said that since the project started five years ago, they have seen huge progress. "We're getting a massive increase in the women sharing about their own experiences of being sexually assaulted, as well as worries about children," she said. "It isn't rocket science. It is just investing that time in building those relationships." Jo Ritchie, who works for Barnardos, said the sex workers are "the most passionate advocates" for the scheme Because many of the women have been sexually assaulted themselves, they are keen to prevent young people from going through similar experiences, Jo said. "Time and time again, we hear them say, 'I wish this had been running when I was a kid, because perhaps I wouldn't be out here now'," she added. "I think they're probably the most passionate advocates... they really don't want to see children on the streets." Megan, 34, doesn't want to be working on Bristol's streets for long, but while she is, she said she is proud to have helped safeguard other girls. "The underage thing is something I really feel strongly about," she said. "There's a bad stigma about sex workers, drugs... but we're not bad people." 'Highest risk children' Night Light is proving so successful in Bristol, that other parts of the country are now looking to roll the project out. And Rose and Jo are both very clear, Night Light would not exist without the women, and hope it helps to challenge the narrative around street sex workers. "They're incredible," Jo said. "We are totally dependent on them. We've identified children at risk, who are out on the streets, who we weren't aware of, because of them. "And that's really one of the key things about Night Light, the children they are pointing us towards are probably some of the highest risk children, but yet they are often really hidden."
