Information about Police officers working with sex workers

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.033350

I note you seek access to the following information:

Q1: Do you have an individual officer/team/unit dedicated to sex worker liaison work - aimed at supporting sex workers who are victims of crime/vulnerable?
Q1a: If yes, what is the role/team/unit called?
Q1b: Under what strategic or operational unit does the officer/team/unit sit?
Q1c: Is the role operational across the whole force or only in specific areas?
Q1d: If only in specific areas which?

Q2: How many officers (FTE equivalent) work in these roles/teams/units?
Q2a: Are these officers/teams/units exclusively dedicated to Sex Worker Liaison work or do they have other responsibilities?
Q2b: If they have other responsibilities please list them here.
Q2c: How many sex workers do these roles/teams/units work with across a year? (1-50; 50-100; 100-200; 200+; we don’t keep a record)
Q2d: Which sex work populations do they mainly work with? (on-street/indoor/online/migrant/across all sex work populations)

Q3: Do you have a role profile/job description for this role?
Q3a: If yes, was this role profile published by the NPCC, College of Policing or University of York or was it produced locally?
Q3b: If locally produced, could you please attach a copy of the role profile/job description?
Q3c: At what grade is the role positioned?

Q4: With which partner agencies do these officers/teams/units work most closely? [Please list top 5]

Q5: With which other police units/teams do these officers/teams/units work most closely? [Please list top 5]

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1- Do you have an individual officer/team/unit dedicated to sex worker liaison work - aimed at supporting sex workers who are victims of crime/vulnerable?
Q1a - If yes, what is the role/team/unit called?
Q1b - Under what strategic or operational unit does the officer/team/unit sit?
Q1c - Is the role operational across the whole force or only in specific areas?
Q1d - If only in specific areas which?

The MPS does not have individual offers who fulfil this criteria in full, however, we do have Tactical and Policy Advisers (TPA’s) who have strategic responsibility for Sex Work as a Public Protection strand. TPA’s are part of Front Line Policing Delivery Unit and work to the Lead Responsible Officer (LRO) for Sex Work, at the rank of Superintendent.

TPA’s are a pan London resource that has developed Operation Evergreen – the MPS strategic response to Sex Work. TPA’s are strategic in their focus and seek to identify and develop best practice in relation to Sex Work and seek to ensure there is a more joined up response to Sex Work in all its forms. TPA’s work with key statutory and non-statutory agencies in relation to Sex Work via a pan London Evergreen Advisory Group.

Q2 - How many officers (FTE equivalent) work in these roles/teams/units?
Q2a - Are these officers/teams/units exclusively dedicated to Sex Worker Liaison work or do they have other responsibilities?
Q2b - If they have other responsibilities please list them here.
Q2c - How many sex workers do these roles/teams/units work with across a year? (1-50; 50-100; 100-200; 200+; we don’t keep a record)
Q2d - Which sex work populations do they mainly work with? (on-street/indoor/online/migrant/across all sex work populations)

Q3 - Do you have a role profile/job description for this role?
Q3a - If yes, was this role profile published by the NPCC, College of Policing or University of York or was it produced locally?
Q3b - If locally produced, could you please attach a copy of the role profile/job description?
Q3c - At what grade is the role positioned?

The MPS does not have any Sex Work Liaison Officers (SWLO’s) we are therefore unable to provide a response to these questions.

Q4 - With which partner agencies do these officers/teams/units work most closely? [Please list top 5]

TPA’s work closely with the following partner agencies:
• Outreach agencies supporting Sex Workers
• Health services supporting Sex Workers
• National Ugly Mugs (reporting pathway for Sex Workers)
• Academia
• Local Authority (i.e. VAWG leads)

Q5 - With which other police units/teams do these officers/teams/units work most closely? [Please list top 5]

TPA’s work closely with the following police units/teams:
• central Specialist Crime (Modern Slavery and Criminal Exploitation Team)
• Met Intel
• Basic Command Units (particularly Rape and Serious Sexual Offences teams and Neighbourhood Teams)
• Professional Standards