Senior police officials are facing serious accusations of normalising the exploitation of women after issuing controversial guidance that advises officers to refer to prostitutes as 'sexual entrepreneurs'.
Parliamentary Group Condemns 'Harmful' Police Language
The all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on Commercial Sexual Exploitation has strongly criticised the National Police Chiefs' Council's (NPCC) new terminology, labelling it 'harmful and inappropriate'. In a formal letter to policing and crime minister Sarah Jones, the group's chair, Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, issued a stark warning.
She stated that the guidance 'contains multiple statements that risk confusion and undermine enforcement of legislation against sexual exploitation'.
The terminology guide, which forms part of the 'Sex Work National Police Guidance', suggests that 'sex work' is for some a 'necessary survival strategy' and for others 'an active career choice'. It is this section that introduces the contentious term 'sexual entrepreneurs'.
Legal and Ideological Clash Over Terminology
The APPG firmly declared the use of the term 'sex work' as 'highly inappropriate', pointing out that it is not recognised in UK legislation. Ms Antoniazzi elaborated in her five-page letter, writing: 'It is an ideological, political and deeply contested term and its recommended use by the NPCC is highly inappropriate.'
She also raised concerns about the very role title of the police officer leading the NPCC's work on this issue, which includes the term 'sex work'. The APPG warned that the decision to reframe prostitution as 'sex work' is actively undermining efforts to increase enforcement of laws designed to combat sexual exploitation.
A particularly alarming statistic highlighted in the letter shows that convictions 'for sexual services of a prostitute subjected to force etc' have plummeted from 43 in 2010 to zero in 2023.
Controversial Stance on Disabled Officers and Meeting Demands
The guidance also included a contentious statement regarding a potential ban on disabled officers paying for sex, suggesting it 'could cause significant distress'. It argued that 'for some there is no other option and using such services may be their only access to a physical relationship of any kind'.
The APPG described this assertion as 'deeply offensive' and said it 'normalises commercial sexual exploitation'. Jess Asato MP, deputy chair of the APPG, told The Telegraph: 'Decriminalising is usually a policy measure that is taken by a Government of the day then pursued, whereas this is just happening and nobody really can see it.'
In response, the cross-party group of MPs has requested an urgent meeting with Minister Sarah Jones. They intend to discuss how police forces in England and Wales can learn from the approach taken by Police Scotland, which does not use the term 'sex work' and recognises the exchange of money for sex acts as a form of violence against women.
The Daily Mail has contacted both the NPCC and Ms Jones for comment.
