Vulnerable women in Merseyside now have a formidable defense mechanism against sexual predators
North West England — Rape, beatings and even burning fuel poured through the letter box are all terrifying realities for some of Merseyside’s most vulnerable women — local sex workers.
While the majority of transactions pass off as expected, some selling sex on the streets, in brothels or via online bookings have faced shocking violence in the first half of this year.
But police and charity workers in the city have combined to provide a formidable defence mechanism giving women access to justice, when not too long ago many in the community would have turned a blind eye.
Alerts circulated by the National Ugly Mugs Scheme (NUMS), a charity set up to share warnings about potentially dangerous or abusive punters, paint a chilling picture of some of the violence faced by sex workers in the county.
Some warn about clients who refuse to pay, or disturbing phone calls including a man asking for school children, but some share urgent warnings about shocking crimes.
March saw a particularly harrowing report: “In the Wirral area a man is contacting agencies requesting outcalls…
“On arrival he was reportedly in the garden and raped her at knifepoint.”
A shift
The NUMS system has been effective in preventing dangerous men from preying on women, but perhaps more fundamental has been a shift in attitude by Merseyside Police.
The force is said to be the only one in the world which classifies offences against sex workers as specific Hate Crimes, a policy introduced in 2006.
The Red Umbrella Project, set up February 2018 by charity Changing Lives with funding from the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office, works in conjunction with the force to offer support to women who are the victims of crime related to the sex trade.
Their combined efforts have led to the convictions of some of the most dangerous men to walk the streets of Liverpool, including ultra-violent serial rapist Eugen Ancuta – jailed for 18 years at Liverpool Crown Court last month.
