National Ugly Mugs Scheme - improving the safety of escorts

[NatUglyMugs]

Hi,

My name is Alex Bryce and I’m the Coordinator of the National Ugly Mugs Scheme which launched earlier this month to improve the safety of sex workers and escorts.

You can sign up to the NUM Scheme for FREE and receive warnings about dangerous individuals who are a threat to you. If you are a victim of a crime you can report this to us and we will use the information to warn other escorts and only if you consent we will pass the information (without any of your personal details) to police intelligence to help bring these dangerous criminals to justice.

If you would like to know more about the scheme or join please visit www.uknswp.org/ugly-mugs/

Please feel free to e-mail me personally if you want to know more about me or the scheme alex.bryce@uknswp.org.uk

Thanks,

Alex

[James]

Does "victim of crime" include garden variety fraud such as a customer who phones and verbally agrees to an amount/service, then fails to return communication upon arrival of the escort and then fails to compensate?

This is far more pressing than "physical danger", which could maybe work for the female sex industry because of its size and nature, but less so for male sex workers.

[NatUglyMugs]

Hi James,

The Scheme mostly deals with crimes but that could range from verbal abuse, fraud (eg: fake notes) refusal to pay after service has been delivered to very serious sexual assaults.

I know that the most common incidents for male escorts will relate to time wasters etc but we have had reports of violence from male escorts and many have told me that they have had very bad experiences.

So, given that it's a free scheme and doesn't take much effort to join it'd definitely be worth you signing up.

Thanks,

Alex

[SleazyMichael]

OK - maybe I have flipped - for weeks I have put up with incomplete contact numbers - but what is the point of this warning? - or do you all agree this is so so useful - yes OK I will now wait for the crap about the clients right to privacy - BOLLOCKS

Message To uglymugs

Sent: Tuesday 6 November 2012 01:08:05

OK Alex can you explain something ref the following recent report why no mention of even the dating site? oh to mention his profile name - well I assume you would have to kill me - and when you supply numbers why INCOMPLETE? - & nothing more than 'Basildon' how vague is that - next it will be 'an address somewhere in ;london "I can only confirm it was a man and his phone number is 0***********8" what are you paranoid that somehow these vile shits will infiltrate UGLY MUGS & what take legal action? - I have been involved with running several forums for years - we share details of PHONE NUMBERS - PHOTOS ie MUG SHOTS - PROFILE DETAILS & EVEN HOME ADDRESS,

what use is this? -

NO ADDRESS

NO PROFILE NAME

NO WEBSITE

NO MUGSHOTS

NO CONTACT NUMBER

- MALE ESCORT CONNED – ESSEX (Ref: PR2278)

It is reported that a man calling himself ‘Michael ’ contacted a male escort through a popular online dating site and business was agreed to take place at the man’s home which was a flat in a communal block in Basildon, Essex on the 04/11/12. The man arranged a taxi from Basildon train station for the escort and during the booking it was reported that he was drinking heavily and kept a knife by his bed in a metal box. Following business he made excuses about having no cash and made payment by cheque from a business account. It is reported that the man later contacted the escort to inform him that the cheque was a dud and that he had no money but would pay the money owed by instalments. The escort has had no further payment or contact from the man. He is described as; 45-49, White, 5ft 9, stocky, shaven grey/white hair, blue eyes and pale complexion, with a local accent and scars to his torso.

(Reported to NUM 05/11/12)

[Guest Steve]

Michael, I have told Shelly Stoops personally my thoughts on the Ugly Mugs scheme and how it's a white elephant designed to give those who promote it another pro point for their "do-gooder" CV's. It's a feel good exercise for people who make their careers in "helping sex workers". The scheme providers, the community workers who promote it and the police are just making noises, looking like they're helping when really, they're not. They're just getting themselves noticed for future career moves and promotions. I fail to see how it helps anyone it's intended to protect.

The national Ugly Mugs scheme does nothing to help sex workers and I wish they would stop saying it does. Incomplete telephone numbers do nothing to help sex workers because we can't store them in our phones and as I told Shelly, none of us are going to walk around with a pocket book and match every telephone number looking for patterns incase it's one of those people.

The whole scheme is a complete waste of time but whilst they're all banging on in the press about how wonderous it is, it's wonderous for their careers not the sex workers. I am personal friends with Shelly, I chat with her on facebook almost everyday but although I am very very good friends with her, I completely disagree with the Ugly Mugs scheme and how it's promoted. I have told her this on many occasions.

The press arn't interested in listening to how pointless the scheme is for sex workers. Recently when it was promoted in the press I commented on it in the comments section on the online version of a national newspaper and was bascially told that I didn't know what I was talking about. Yes obviously ..... I am only one of the people putting myself in danger and meeting these offenders but how do I know they are offenders when their telephone number alerts say 07*4*6**3*5, fucking no use whatsoever.

The best schemes are the ones which sex workers administer themselves, not the sex worker do-gooders and sex workers who want a political career after doing their stint as a rent boy (there's plenty of those about too).

The press and police don't keep themselves confidential when they're looking for an ugly mug, they announce the details of the person they want in connection with an attack on national tv and in the press. We get a location, like the name of a town, no address, phone numbers with blanks and vague descriptions. "He was 40 with ginger pubes", well fuck me, I did three like that last week.

[TopGuy]

Agreed, I did hope UglyMugs would be a good idea but it's clearly not working out. It's a nice try but it has to conform with all sorts of irrelevant legal requirements which thankfully this site is not concerned with.

[James]

As already pointed out, the problem with such projects is that they attempt to co-opt professional classes, charities etc, who all have their own politically correct agendas to stick to. The resultant circle jerk co-operative will have their own "professional" agenda as to what is good for the class they are charged with protecting. I found it revealing that the Ugly Mugs project, as is fashionable, made it compulsory [edit - now with threads merged, OK, I concede "primary", not compulsory] to focus on acts of violence (the reason I did not join). It sums up the mentality of charity workers/police agencies/do-gooders - that sex workers are primarily victims of violence. This comes before what in my experience are far more prevalent grievances - such as financial fraud and harassment. Of course, the inflated violence paradigm is very easy to sell within these circles (an excuse for urgency), and in the rare cases that they are held to account in the media (it serves prejudices).

[Ben Manchester]

Threads merged

[Guest Steve]

It sums up the mentality of charity workers/police agencies/do-gooders - that sex workers are primarily victims of violence.

I completely agree. What concerns me more is that most of people behind the Ugly Mugs scheme have never been sex workers nor have they worked in the sex industry but they seem to know what's best for sex workers. The information given out by the ugly mugs scheme is unhelpful and useless. How is, flat in a communal block and "Michael" helpful. We need real facts like addresses and phone numbers.

Yes, the scheme is free to join but I fail to see what help it's doing for anyone. The biggest, most useful information is the phone number but they won't give it. The description is useless IMHO because the only time it's useful is when you're face to face with the guy and then it's too late, we hardly get to see any of them in advance of the meeting, do we !

The ugly mugs scheme is a pointless piece of propaganda intended to make the National Sexworkers Project look important and that's the top and bottom of it.

I had dinner with two of the members on that list back in 2009 when they were at a conference in Newcastle way way before the scheme came out and asked for my opinion on how it could help gay sex workers. I said without the phone number of the perpetrator it's not helping anyone because phones won't display the name in your phone of a part number.

When things have happened in the media I've tuned in on TV to see people saying "Well this is why we need an ugly mugs scheme", yes you do need one but the information put out my the scheme wouldn't have saved any of those people because vague descriptions, blanked out numbers and "tower block" in a town which which probably had about 90 of the damn buildings doesn't help anyone.

We have a local project here called the Gap Project, they're a well meaning bunch of people and are part of the NSWP. Until last year they had no funding for gay sex workers. What's all that about, sex workers are sex workers, why does gender have to play a part. They did once give me a rape alarm, but unless I am shagging some bloke in the woods near dog walkers or in the bushes in a city centre park I doubt I will ever have any use for it.

Mesmac ( a gay outreach service) are only interested in skinny rent boys. They laughed when I said I was a sex worker, honestly they did, they were astonished that someone knocking on 40 would be offering incall sex work in Newcastle. They thought it all happened in cruising areas. I thought, what goes on in the heads of these people, they're so singular in their outlook. Bonkers the whole lot of them. ( I don't mean that of Shelly because she's my lovely friend).

If the intention of the Ugly Mugs scheme is for us to keep a small note book with us at all times and match up the blanks etc (because putting it in a phone is usless) is it supposed to look like this

07***6***77 Dave Scar on his face big cock

078**4**22* Andy tower block ginger

07*67**7743 Someone in Sunderland who smokes weed

0191***4*** A tower block in Newcastle, Paul, unclean underwear, cats

It will look more like playing 4 in a row and for gods sake, how does any of that help any of us

[Guest Steve]

Full discussion on Harlots

Feel free to join in and and say you piece

Thanks to Chris for posting it for me

http://harlotsparlour.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/uk-ugly-mugs-inititive-who-does-it-actually-help/

[SleazyMichael]

brilliant!!! - thought maybe i was being rather harsh - well don't worry i will keep banging the drum

I have just sent a msge to uglymugs via gaydar challenging - SHITE - Profile is inactive

[Ben Manchester]

Alex from UKNSWP had this to say:

UKNSWP statement

UKNSWP is proud to be part of a tradition of "ugly mugs" and third party reporting schemes which give options for sex workers to alert each other and to report crimes. In our reports and public presentations about ugly mugs we have always acknowledged that "ugly mugs" originates from sex workers themselves and that sex workers have been and are resourceful in finding ways to protect themselves, often in challenging legal and social contexts.

Before the National Ugly Mugs (NUM) Pilot Scheme was established a year-long development project was undertaken by the UKNSWP which consulted widely with sex workers. We still welcome feedback from sex workers and reply personally to anyone who sends us any comments which we take on board and make changes if we can. The vast majority of the feedback we have from sex workers has been positive and we are constantly told that the scheme is really useful. It has to be remembered that this is a pilot project and thus we are continuously learning from the experiences of scheme participants. The scheme is also being evaluated by two academic members of UKNSWP (on a voluntary basis), and they will be seeking the views of participants early next year to inform the final evaluation report and make recommendations for ways in which the scheme might be improved.

UKNSWP is pleased that there is discussion about NUM amongst sex worker online communities. We would welcome such forums to get directly in touch with us so we can consider their feedback and views through constructive engagement. In fact to date, many of the changes we have made to the scheme have come about as a response to constructive feedback from sex workers or those who run forums or escort sites.

NUM aims to support all sex workers, whether male, female or trans, and whether working on the streets, in parlours, flats, advertising online or working in any sector. Some sex workers do not necessarily have access to the internet or websites for information-sharing and it is important to make reporting as accessible as possible to all sex workers, through a range of options.

We are fully aware that sex workers who take bookings over the phone would find full numbers and profile names useful as it makes it easier for them to block people. For escorts taking bookings over the phone we do try include as much information as possible (if we have it) which might alert people to individuals to avoid such as whether the incident was an in/out call, their name, their accent, their telephone manner, the area they live in and any other details or habits which may come to light before actually meeting the individual in person.

With regards to phone numbers, our current policy is if we have a full phone number to include, this will be included with three digits taken out. This policy was based on the legal advice we took during the development of the scheme. As well as the legal issues with publishing full details of reported perpetrators, we have a duty to individuals making the report not to put them in danger of repercussions if the alert fell into the wrong hands. In compiling any alert we therefore have to consider how any details or content might identify the victim, so this can sometimes limit what is included. The other main reason why we cannot fully identify alleged perpetrators is that it could undermine a prosecution of an 'ugly mug' and ultimately lead to a court case falling apart. By fully identifying people we mean by including full details that identify a specific individual – telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, car registration numbers and names of alleged perpetrators are all details which we need to be extra careful about. We must also be mindful of the possibility that malicious reports could be made into the scheme.

For clarification some of the posts about NUM imply that we would include a phone number in an alert with more than three digits removed - we would never do that. In addition, in alerts where there is no phone number included that is because the person reporting the incident didn’t provide us with a phone number. The same goes for descriptions of perpetrators – we include as detailed a description as we can with the information provided to us. We encourage all NUM members to include as much information as possible about perpetrators; this will enable us to provide fuller alerts. We provide alerts in cases of limited information because members have said they want these.

That leads me on to the other main aspect of the NUM Scheme which is to support sex workers in reporting information to the police. Less than 30% of the victims reporting into NUM feel comfortable enough to make a full report to the police. That is why, if and only if the victim gives consent, we will feed the information (including full details about the perpetrators) to the police without giving any information about the victim. We have already seen positive results from this and many police forces are actually investigating them as if they had been formally reported. This is one area where NUM can really complement other schemes, whether being run by forums or escort sites or sex work projects.

We acknowledge that the laws around sex work are problematic and can undermine sex workers' access to the criminal justice system – that is why we need schemes like this. Currently, whilst challenging laws and policies detrimental to sex worker safety, we are having to work within the existing framework to try to make a difference. Engaging with the police on our terms has already had positive outcomes in many areas.

NUM is supported by a range of organisations and individuals and we hope to build the network of supporters. Although the scheme is supported by some projects and individuals who take an abolitionist approach, the scheme is run independently and autonomously by the UKNSWP, which is fully committed to recognising sex workers’ right to self-determination. It is also important to note that the board members of the UKNSWP are unpaid and the NUM Scheme is run on a small budget by two members of staff who work very hard to manage and develop the service.

It is hard to see how a scheme which raises awareness about how the law and bad police practices contributes to sex workers being targeted by criminals, and makes them reluctant to report to the police, could be used to support abolitionist policies. UKNSWP has a long history of opposing criminalisation of sex work, and if the scheme were ever misrepresented in such a way, we would strongly oppose this.

The purpose of NUM is to complement, not replace, the work of local projects working with sex workers as well as forums, escort sites or agencies who share warnings and alerts. It may not be the perfect model for everyone working in the sex industry and we know that the alerts would be more effective, especially for those who arrange bookings over the phone, if we could identify perpetrators, but we have outlined the legal considerations we are working within that shape our practice.

However, we have already had some positive outcomes in the four months since the scheme launched. Within this short timescale, NUM has already been instrumental in the arrest and charging of 3 criminals wanted for the aggravated assault and robbery of at least 9 sex worker premises in London, the arrest of one male wanted for rape in Merseyside and the recalling to prison of a well-known scammer of male escorts.

Taking on board the feedback we have received, we will re-examine the issue of our legal requirements regarding telephone numbers and other key personal information with our legal advisers. We are also currently looking into the possibility of introducing a number checker which would allow members of the scheme to type in a number to see if it matches any that have been reported to us. As we stress, this is a pilot scheme and we genuinely want to reflect and develop.

[TopGuy]

At the end of the day it either works for us or it doesn't. Of course it was always going to be legal reasons preventing them from identifying people but if the NUM spent a day with one of us they would soon see how useless it is providing partly anonymised information. Goodescort has prevented me from making some big mistakes over the past year and I can't see how Ugly Mugs information could do likewise. In my day job I design schemes similar to this and it's clear that either they do not understand the way in which we operate or are hamstrung by legal advice. Either way, it's not fit for purpose.

I tried to leave the scheme but it's not clear how to do that either.

[Guest Steve]

There's more questions to be asked like Vera Baird - sex worker hater being involved in the scheme.

[SleazyMichael]

'With regards to phone numbers, our current policy is if we have a full phone number to include, this will be included with three digits taken out. This policy was based on the legal advice we took during the development of the scheme. As well as the legal issues with publishing full details of reported perpetrators, we have a duty to individuals making the report not to put them in danger of repercussions if the alert fell into the wrong hands. In compiling any alert we therefore have to consider how any details or content might identify the victim, so this can sometimes limit what is included. The other main reason why we cannot fully identify alleged perpetrators is that it could undermine a prosecution of an 'ugly mug' and ultimately lead to a court case falling apart. By fully identifying people we mean by including full details that identify a specific individual – telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, car registration numbers and names of alleged perpetrators are all details which we need to be extra careful about. We must also be mindful of the possibility that malicious reports could be made into the scheme.'

IF this forum followed the same format - there would be NO forum - Michael Nathan Goldsmith - is currently in prison for a third or is it fourth time - we have here extensively reported his number & email address mug shots - did this cause his court cases to collapse? NO - and why would malicious reports be made? - if we covered every possible what if? - well just don't get out of bed!

[SleazyMichael]

'We are fully aware that sex workers who take bookings over the phone would find full numbers and profile names useful as it makes it easier for them to block people. For escorts taking bookings over the phone we do try include as much information as possible (if we have it) which might alert people to individuals to avoid such as whether the incident was an in/out call, their name, their accent, their telephone manner, the area they live in and any other details or habits which may come to light before actually meeting the individual in person.'

OH PLEASE!!!!!! RESULT:

what use is this? -

NO ADDRESS

NO PROFILE NAME

NO WEBSITE

NO MUGSHOTS

NO CONTACT NUMBER

- MALE ESCORT CONNED – ESSEX (Ref: PR2278)

It is reported that a man calling himself ‘Michael ’ contacted a male escort through a popular online dating site and business was agreed to take place at the man’s home which was a flat in a communal block in Basildon, Essex on the 04/11/12. The man arranged a taxi from Basildon train station for the escort and during the booking it was reported that he was drinking heavily and kept a knife by his bed in a metal box. Following business he made excuses about having no cash and made payment by cheque from a business account. It is reported that the man later contacted the escort to inform him that the cheque was a dud and that he had no money but would pay the money owed by instalments. The escort has had no further payment or contact from the man. He is described as; 45-49, White, 5ft 9, stocky, shaven grey/white hair, blue eyes and pale complexion, with a local accent and scars to his torso.

(Reported to NUM 05/11/12)

[Ben Manchester]

I haven't quite decided about the UKNSWP scheme myself. I think it's positive that a national scheme exists and I'm pleased it's there for people who don't have access to other resources, especially street workers who haven't been able to benefit from sharing information in the same way as those of us who work online. I think the scheme will help some people in these circumstances and, if even one just person is saved from a serious attack as a result, then the scheme has to be worthwhile.

As a national, government sponsored scheme however, it's clear that UKNSWP have to remain within the law. It's illegal to publish personally identifiable information without the owner's permission and making public allegations regarding a person's behaviour can also lead to problems with libel, not to mention mistaken identity, etc. The scheme is only reporting allegations, these Ugly Mugs have not been convicted, and therefore it's right that UKNSWP is restricted by the rules that apply to any other organisation in this situation.

Escorts who work online and by phone have a different set of requirements for an Ugly Mugs scheme. We tend to be more at risk of fraud and time wasters than of, thankfully, violence and therefore need ways to share information that prevent these kinds of problems. We need the numbers, email addresses and profile names of the guys that act in this way so we can identify them should they contact us.

I made the decision to allow escorts to share information in this private environment as I couldn't see how else it could be useful. I'm aware the website is not strictly compliant with ICO guidelines, though I would argue that I am ultimately not responsible for the data shared in a forum by its members. That however is a decision I can make as an individual, not something a national organisation could support even if it wanted to.

For now, I think we should give UKNSWP a chance to grow. It's only in the first year of its pilot and the feedback it receives could well shape the service in the future. Even as it is, the scheme is good for ensuring that escorts have better access to the police and the scheme allows more people to be informed of serious incidents than ever before.

I do believe that UKNWWP should be used alongside services such as Good Escort, for problems that need to be escalated due to violence or serious fraud. For standard time wasters and the other information we escorts find useful to discuss, a forum such a Good Escort is, for now, the better solution.

As for data collection used for future political decisions, that's a separate issue we should take up with our politicians. It seems to me that most UK data regarding prostitution comes from the "problem" end of the market, as it's collected by the authorities and organisations that assist and police community problems. Very little data is collected from the thousands of men and women who make sex work their career, pay their taxes and never come to the attention of the authorities. These professionals go unseen by our politicians and therefore policy decisions often ignore them.

[Guest Steve]

I know

Well I decided to be bolshy with the lot of them and see if I could get to the bottom of things with them. I've certainly upset the apple cart a little with them

Thanks to Chris in Newcastle who runs Harlots Parlour, he was happy to post my article knowing it would upset a few people. Fair play to him, he didn't mind

[SleazyMichael]

'For now, I think we should give UKNSWP a chance to grow. It's only in the first year of its pilot and the feedback it receives could well shape the service in the future. Even as it is, the scheme is good for ensuring that escorts have better access to the police and the scheme allows more people to be informed of serious incidents than ever before.'

yes Ben i agree - if they heed feedback

[AlexUK]

*Bump* anyone who isn't signed up yet?

[James]

I don't see the point in yet another group for sharing information, and with this one there is no sharing phone numbers. They only just launched a number checker that will give you a positive, but won't help you much when the call comes in because you can't save the number.