Trans sex workers in the UK: security, services and safety

Although policy, debate and academic discourse around sex work has become increasingly gender nuanced, with calls to ‘queer’ sex work over past 10 years or so, UK-based trans sex workers remain largely invisible in this body of work. This chapter seeks to outline the extant knowledge on trans sex workers and sex work in the UK with a focus on security, services and safety. Starting with an academic overview, we explore the existing knowledge base specifically on the policing and security risks faced by trans sex workers – acknowledging the myriad and complex issues often faced by, or experienced by trans sex workers in the context of gender, sexualities and stigma. Following this, we reflect on the expert knowledge of practitioners offering front line services to trans sex workers, and consider the potential and varied service needs of trans people in the context of sex work. Finally, we consider safety through an analysis of data from the National Ugly Mugs – an organisation seeking to reduce and tackle violence against sex workers by providing a national reporting and alert system – and discuss reports of violence and criminality made by trans sex workers. To conclude we make some recommendations about where future research might usefully enhance knowledge and practice around trans sex work in the UK.