Escort Safety Advice: Practical Tips for Staying Safe

The most important safety advice

The most important escort safety advice is to tell someone you trust where you are, screen before you meet, trust your instincts and leave whenever you feel unsafe. No list can remove every risk, and any harm done to you by someone else is that person's fault, never yours. These habits simply make it easier to spot trouble early and to get out of it.

This guide is written for adult women already doing the work or thinking seriously about it. It is not meant to persuade you into it. If you are thinking about it and these risks make you feel you would rather not, that is a sensible response. Our guide on becoming an escort covers other options, and you can stop at any time. You have every right to say no, whatever has been agreed.

Use National Ugly Mugs

National Ugly Mugs (nationaluglymugs.org) is a UK charity set up to protect sex workers. It lets members report dangerous incidents and receive alerts about people and phone numbers that others have flagged. You can report anonymously, and you can ask for support from a caseworker, including help to report to the police if you want to, on your own terms. Signing up costs nothing and it may be the most useful safety step you can take.

Before you confirm a booking, check the phone number against the alerts you have. If a number or description is flagged, you do not have to explain why you are declining. Do report anything that happens to you, even if it feels small, as it could protect the next woman.

Before a booking

Take time over screening. Whether you work on your own or through an agency, you are entitled to know the basics before you go: a name, the location, the time and the length. If you work for yourself, have a phone conversation rather than relying on text alone, as the voice and manner of someone can tell you a lot. Be cautious about anyone who is rude, pushy, tries to bargain hard, refuses to give basic details, or keeps changing the plan.

Set up a safe call system. Share the address, time and client details with a friend you trust, and agree when you will check in. Agree too what your friend should do if you do not check in, such as calling you, then calling the police. Agree a code word which means you need help. Do this every time, not just when you feel nervous.

Think about your location. A well-known hotel with staff and cameras can feel different from a private house with no neighbours. Look the address up on a map first. Plan how you will get there and how you will get away, and keep your phone charged, with a little money set aside for a cab home. Try to have your own way of leaving, rather than relying on a client.

During a booking

Trust your first impressions. If you arrive and something feels wrong, such as more people present than you expected, signs of drugs, or someone who seems angry or very drunk, you can leave. You do not need a reason that would satisfy anyone else. An excuse such as feeling unwell or a call from your agency can help you get out without a confrontation.

Stay aware of the room and where the door is, and keep your bag and phone close to you. Try not to drink much, and do not leave your drink unattended. Do not take anything offered to you if you are not sure what it is. Keep your personal life to yourself: you do not need to give your real name, your home address or details about your family.

Check in with your friend when you agreed you would. If you are ever in danger, get out and call 999. If you cannot speak, you can dial 999 and press 55 when prompted from a mobile, which tells the operator you need help. Make as much noise as you need to.

Your limits, your health

You are in charge of your own boundaries. Rates are for your time and companionship, and no client can buy the right to anything more. You can say no at any point, including to something you agreed to earlier. Anyone who ignores that is doing something very wrong, and it may be a serious crime. Our guide on what consent means explains this in plain language. The same goes for anyone who pressures you into something you did not agree to.

Take care of your physical health. NHS sexual health clinics offer free, confidential testing and advice, and they are used to helping people from all walks of life. Look after your mental health as well, because stress, tiredness and isolation can build up without you noticing. Keep up friendships that have nothing to do with this work. Samaritans are available on 116 123, and your GP can refer you for further support. It is fine to take a break, and it is also fine to stop.

The law, exploitation and getting help

Some safety decisions have legal consequences, so it is worth understanding them. In England and Wales, premises used by more than one person for prostitution can legally be a brothel, which can be a serious issue for women who choose to share a space for safety. Soliciting in a street or public place is also an offence where it is persistent, and the rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Our guide on the law in the UK has more details, and a solicitor can tell you where you stand.

You also have the same right to protection as anyone else. Being in this line of work does not take away your right to report a crime, and if you are worried about how you will be treated, National Ugly Mugs can help you decide what to do. If you do not want to go to the police directly, you can ask them about your options.

Tax is part of keeping yourself protected, too. Registering as self-employed with HMRC and keeping records of your income and costs reduces one source of worry, and GOV.UK explains how.

Danger does not only come from clients. Be alert if anyone holds your passport or ID, takes your earnings, tells you who to see, stops you leaving, or makes you feel you owe them. These are signs of exploitation or trafficking, even when the person calls himself a boyfriend or a helper. If this is happening to you, or to someone you know, call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700, where you can talk in confidence, or call 999 in an emergency.

If you have been assaulted, you can get help whether or not you go to the police. In England and Wales, Rape Crisis is on 0808 500 2222. National Domestic Abuse Helpline is on 0808 2000 247. A sexual assault referral centre can provide medical care and support without you having to report anything. If you want to leave this work, Beyond the Streets offers support, and you do not need to explain yourself to anyone.

If you are with us or thinking of joining, our joining page explains how we work. You decide what you are comfortable with, and you can say no at any time.

This is general information, not legal advice.