{"id":81263,"date":"2025-05-07T07:29:21","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T07:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/81263\/"},"modified":"2025-05-07T07:29:21","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T07:29:21","slug":"bristols-street-sex-workers-helping-protect-some-of-the-citys-most-at-risk-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/81263\/","title":{"rendered":"Bristol’s street sex workers helping protect some of the city\u2019s most at-risk children"},"content":{"rendered":"

Viewers have been given a rare and revealing insight into this hidden world thanks to work by BBC West InvestigastionsNews<\/a><\/p>\n

Kirstie McCrum<\/strong> Network Content Editor<\/p>\n

06:00, 07 May 2025<\/p>\n

\"Generic‘Society completely demonises them and misconstrues’ sex workers (file photo)(Image: South Wales Echo)<\/p>\n

Sex workers operating on Bristol’s streets are helping to protect some of the city\u2019s most at-risk children.<\/p>\n

These people are working alongside police and a charity to help to bring dangerous child sex-offenders to justice and identify children who may be on the streets after dark and at risk of exploitation.<\/p>\n

A new BBC documentary, The Sex Detectives: Keeping Kids Safe<\/a>, will be available on BBC<\/a> iPlayer from today (Wednesday, May 7). It gives a rare and revealing insight into this hidden world thanks to work by BBC West Investigations.<\/p>\n

Rachel Stonehouse, from the BBC West Investigations team, is the first journalist to have been given such extensive access to the Night Light project \u2013 a partnership between Barnardo\u2019s, Avon and Somerset Police, Bristol City Council<\/a>, and local sex workers.<\/p>\n

At a time when there is such concern about violence against women and girls, this behind-the-scenes report explores the action one city is trying to take.<\/p>\n

Filmed on night operations over a number of months, it takes an unflinching look at the issue and hears first-hand from sex workers about their experiences on the streets, the young people the scheme has helped and follows the professionals on shift as they try to disrupt the men buying sex.<\/p>\n

The project was established in Bristol in 2020 during the Covid lockdowns, following concerns that young people were at risk of sexual or criminal exploitation.<\/p>\n

The sex workers involved provide information on suspicious individuals and report possible child exploitation and abuse to authorities.<\/p>\n

\"GenericA charity came up with the idea of talking to the women working on the streets about what they see and hear when others are not around (file photo)(Image: South Wales Echo)<\/p>\n

Jo Ritchie, a social worker employed by Barnardo’s, came up with the idea of talking to the women working on the streets about what they see and hear when others are not around.<\/p>\n

She told the BBC: “We are totally dependent on [sex workers]. We’ve identified children at risk, who are out on the streets, who we weren’t aware of, because of them.<\/p>\n

“And that’s really one of the key things about Night Light, the children they are pointing us towards are probably some of the highest risk children, but yet they are often really hidden.”<\/p>\n

Sign up to receive daily news updates and breaking news alerts straight to your inbox for free here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2024, the Night Light team had 124 conversations with street sex workers \u2013 who have made 65 reports about dangerous men and highlighted around 20 young people at risk of exploitation . Some other parts of the country are now looking to roll out similar projects.<\/p>\n

In The Sex Detectives: Keeping Kids Safe Rachel Stonehouse meets people like \u2018Anna\u2019, whose real identity is being protected. She worked on the streets over a 30-year period and has been key to the success of the project.<\/p>\n

\"Generic\u2018Anna\u2019, whose real identity is protected, worked on the streets over a 30-year period (file photo)(Image: South Wales Echo)<\/p>\n

On one occasion a man, who was paying her for sex, asked her to engage in role-play, where she had to pretend to be a primary school age girl.<\/p>\n

“It was really unpleasant. Sickening to be honest,” she said. “I had to carry on for three months, but I couldn’t walk away until I knew what was happening.”<\/p>\n

After reporting her concerns to the police, it turned out the man was abusing his eight-year-old daughter. \u2018Anna\u2019 gave evidence, and he was sent to prison.<\/p>\n

“If you think there’s a chance you’re leaving a child in that position, you’ve got to stay. You’ve got to find out,” she said.<\/p>\n

The documentary also follows police officers like Rose Brown, a sex work liaison officer who acknowledges that the relationship between the police and sex workers has not always been easy but said gaining trust has been key.<\/p>\n

\u201cBreaking down those barriers\u2026 isn\u2019t rocket science. It\u2019s just investing that time in building those relationships .\u201d<\/p>\n

Jo Ritchie emphasised that Night Light would not exist without these women and hopes that it helps to challenge the narrative around street sex workers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re incredible. I think so often society completely demonises them and misconstrues them and actually, we couldn\u2019t do Night Light without them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been so many children that will have been prevented from being harmed because of the information they\u2019ve shared.\u201d<\/p>\n

Steph Marshall, the BBC\u2019s head of content production for the West and South West, said: \u201cThis BBC West investigation looks in detail at this unique scheme founded in Bristol, and how it\u2019s trying to make the streets safer for children, sex workers, and the public alike. Not only do we have exclusive access to the people involved, but also meet those personally helped by the project \u2013 and explore the impact it\u2019s having on our communities in the West.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"GenericWomen on the streets are ‘unsung and invaluable partners in this work’ (file photo)(Image: South Wales Echo)<\/p>\n

Sarah Crawley, Director of Barnardo\u2019s Cymru and South West, said: \u201cNight Light has proved to be a very effective way of safeguarding some of our most at-risk children and young people, who might otherwise be missed by more conventional services. The women we meet on the streets are unsung and invaluable partners in this work.<\/p>\n

“We are so grateful to them for putting their trust in our team. The information they provide allows us to identify and support children and young people at risk of becoming exploited.<\/p>\n

“For some of those children, they feel safer on the streets because they\u2019re trying to escape neglect or abuse at home or in their communities. Night Light enables them to find the safety and support they need and deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rose Brown, Sex Work Liaison Officer from Avon and Somerset Police, said: \u201cThese women are the eyes and ears on the street. They know far more than we do, and we realised what a vital resource they are in not only identifying dangerous sex offenders that pose a risk to women, but also to protecting and safeguarding any young children who are out on the street and at risk of exploitation themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the women have been through sexual exploitation when they were younger, so they know what signs to look out for. It\u2019s sad, some of the women have had the most horrendous experiences and they just find themselves in this cycle of trauma where they use drugs to numb it. That\u2019s one of the worst things, the women just get so dehumanised by society.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Sex Detectives: Keeping Kids Safe will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer from May 7 here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Bristol Live WhatsApp Breaking News and Top Stories<\/p>\n

Join Bristol Live\u2019s WhatsApp community for top stories and breaking news sent directly to your phone<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bristol Live<\/a> is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.<\/p>\n

Through the app, we\u2019ll send the latest breaking news, top stories, exclusives and much more straight to your phone.<\/p>\n

To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select \u2018Join Community\u2019.<\/a><\/p>\n

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live<\/a> team.<\/p>\n

We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.<\/p>\n

To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose \u2018Exit group\u2019.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n

Click here to join our WhatsApp community.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Viewers have been given a rare and revealing insight into this hidden world thanks to work by BBC…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":81264,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8818],"tags":[192,381,3893,748,188,393,4884,457,455,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-81263","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bristol","8":"tag-bbc","9":"tag-bristol","10":"tag-bristol-city-council","11":"tag-britain","12":"tag-crime","13":"tag-england","14":"tag-great-britain","15":"tag-people","16":"tag-real-life","17":"tag-uk","18":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114465378598160702","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81263"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81263\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}