Dedicated liaison roles ‘instrumental’ for police forces to build trust with sex workers, research finds

A new study has found that only 3.5% of reported cases of violence against sex workers in Gwent lead to a criminal conviction, but a dedicated liaison officer could help rebuild trust between the police and sex workers, researchers at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) suggest. 

Produced in partnership with Gwent Police and Cyfannol Women’s Aid, UWE Bristol researchers – Dr Jane Nolan, Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Duncan McPhee, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice - explored the nature of violence against sex workers in Gwent and what the current challenges are in a criminal investigation where the victim is a sex worker.

A total of 86 reports of violence or the threat of violence where the victim is a sex worker were examined for the study and it was discovered only 7% resulted in charges, half of which led to criminal convictions.

In addition, 15 sex workers in Gwent were interviewed, with 14 sharing experiences of violence by a client. Eight had reported at least one of their experiences to the police while five had never reported any of the negative incidents they had experienced. Many cited distrust, fear of repercussions and negative past experiences, and those that did report to the police said it resulted in no action or negative outcomes.

The research also sought to understand the current relationship between sex workers and Gwent Police and the effectiveness of current processes to mitigate the risk of violence against sex workers in Gwent. The sex work liaison officer (SWLO) was identified as a pivotal figure in the research, bridging the gap between sex workers and the police, repairing the ‘trust-deficit’ and providing trauma-informed support, which was repeatedly cited as ‘transformative’.

Duncan McPhee at UWE Bristol said: “In building trust between sex workers and the police, our research has shown that the role of the sex worker liaison officer is instrumental. This is important given that only a small number of police forces across England and Wales have officers formally deployed in this role. Although this research focused on the experiences of sex workers in Gwent, we believe the learning from this work will be really valuable for police forces nationwide.”

In addition to highlighting the impact of the SWLO role, the report makes a range of recommendations as to how Gwent Police can further improve its response to violence experienced by sex workers. These related to bespoke training on sex work and adult sexual exploitation, alongside potential changes to existing crime recording protocols and risk assessment processes.

Detective Superintendent Michelle Chaplin at Gwent Police said: “I am pleased that this research recognises the positive impact that the sex worker liaison officer role has on fostering relationships between sex workers and our officers, and the cultural shift towards a more trauma-informed approach within policing.

“Tackling violence against women and girls is a key priority for us and we are proud to have taken part in this vital research to help better understand the relationship and challenges officers and sex workers face when interacting with each other.

“We remain dedicated to improving our service, working with partners to ensure that we are not only securing justice for victims but also we are protecting and supporting vulnerable people.”

Amy Jones, Exploitation Service Manager at Cyfannol Women's Aid said: “We are proud to have contributed to this important research, which gives a platform to women whose voices are too often unheard. Building trust with women who have experienced sexual exploitation requires a trauma-informed approach across all agencies. We’re committed to working collaboratively with Gwent Police and other partners to ensure best practice is shaped by the voices, needs, and lived experiences of the women we support. This work is a vital step in that direction.”

Read the full report here.