Nordic model approach to prostitution in Bristol. (title edited by MNHQ at request of OP)

[ArabellaScott]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y6030knxdo

Article on how Bristol police are targeting males who use prostitutes, while using a 'safeguarding' approach for women involved.

Argggggh Nordic model, autocorrect. Will ask MN to edit.

Thanks, MN! There is no Norwich model of prostitution afaik...

Bump

That was really interesting. It links to a TV programme about children at risk of exploitation as well so I'll have a look at that.
I'm a university lecturer and everyone paints our male students as lovely and couldn't possibly harm girls and women. We still have rapes and harassment.

It's great to hear about this, especially somewhere like Bristol. So much of the narrative around prostitution is 'sex work is work'.

There was an interview with a scientist who was the first woman to be out on the arctic circle science teams. She had to fight hard to get there because she was a woman. Or rather because ‘Men are like elephant seals.’, as her boss told her.

Men.

'Dan Vajzovic, the NPCC lead for the policing of sex work, says Avon and Somerset's work is "exemplary".
"We're trying to develop an approach that recognises the vulnerability of many of the women who sell sex on the streets... and target serious criminals as well as improving the safety of sex workers.
"The success in Bristol speaks for itself and it would be great to see this replicated across all forces in England and Wales."
Representatives from a number of other police forces have been out with the teams in Bristol in the hope of setting up similar approaches to Op Boss and Night Light.'

That’s really encouraging.

Ash Regan has proposed a similar model in Scotland.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-strategic-approach-challenging-deterring-mens-demand-prostitution-supporting-recovery-sustainable-exit-those-involved-prostitution/pages/2/

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24793082.nordic-model-explained-sex-workers-protest-proposal/

More on Scotland from Nordic Model Now:

https://nordicmodelnow.org/2024/02/06/nmn-welcomes-the-scottish-governments-new-strategy-for-tackling-prostitution/

And on the NPCC's approach - NMN are highly critical. This article offers important context.

'Our concerns are focused on the shallow understanding of how the sex industry works and its impact on the wider community, the idea that the police can successfully “safeguard” women who are involved in prostitution, the partnering with pimping websites, and the emphasis on lack of enforcement of the legislation against brothels, pimps, and sex buyers. As we said before, we would go as far as to suggest that this guidance goes both beyond the law that has been democratically passed by Parliament and the legitimate role of the police.'

https://nordicmodelnow.org/2025/04/07/the-updated-npcc-sex-work-national-police-guidance-pandering-to-men-and-failing-women/

This is the right approach- it humanly and sensitively supports some of our most vulnerable women, whilst focusing on the behaviour of men.

We cannot keep targeting the women and pushing them down a criminal pathway- this has to be about safety, safeguarding and empathy.

Good. Hopefully it will help the vulnerable women, children, and men who are forced by pimps or desperate circumstances into prostitution.

I was horrified recently to discover my union supports full decriminalisation! Quite apart from my own view, that men who 'buy sex' (i.e. rape) should ideally be put down like the animals they are, but at the very least face life in prison.

Britain doesn't have the Nordic Model but it is illegal or buy or sell sex on the street. This is what's being enforced here. It is still legal for consenting adults indoors to buy and sell sex if the sex worker is alone.

Your union is in good company. Decriminalisation is supported by orgs including Amnesty Int, the World Health Org, UNAIDs, HIV Scotland, STOPAIDs, Human Rights Watch, anti-trafficking orgs and sex workers orgs.

In 2022 Belgium became the first European country to pass decriminalisation of sex work/prostitution joining NZ and parts of Australia.

decrimnow.org.uk/open-letter-on-the-nordic-model/

Opinions on what is 'good company' may vary.

It's the pimps who are the real problem.

Your celebration of them is the final push I need to leave. No more fees for promoting the abuse of women from me.