Protection? Wearamask if you want
Prostitutes risking lives by working during outbreak
PROSTITUTES are continuing to ply their trade from private flats despite the threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic, a Daily Record investigation has discovered.
We found 48 women “available” for bookings on the leading website for sex workers on a single day.
The vast majority of the 1117 women offering sex on the site have stopped seeing customers.
But dozens are putting their health at risk, with one telling our investigator she was unconcerned about the virus – but punters could choose to wear a face mask. Megara Furie, secretary of the GMB union’s adult entertainment branch, said financial pressures may be forcing the women to continue working. Herself a dominatrix who has turned to webcam-for-cash sessions during the pandemic, she said some sex workers may have no other way to support themselves or loved ones.
A Record investigation found that of the 1117 escort profiles registered on the website, 48 advertised as available for “in-call” bookings last Wednesday. That means they see clients from private flats, offering a list a range of sex acts on offer, while many still do “out-calls” where they visit a client’s home.
In the Glasgow area, 22 of the 409 profiles were active on that day.
Meanwhile, 10 of 217 sex workers were still active in Edinburgh.
The health risk seemed to have made greater impact in Aberdeen, with only one woman from the 117 profiles remaining at work.
In Dundee, all of the 46 profiles had gone dark.
The Record called a number of by ALAn McEwEn reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk
“available” sex workers in Edinburgh to confirm they were still seeing clients and to ask about their coronavirus precautions.
Foxy, 30, who charges £140 an hour at an east Edinburgh flat said: “I’ve not got corona. If you want to wear a mask, by all means that’s up to you.”
We asked Romanian Mandy, 20, who charges £100 an hour, if a client should take precautions over coronavirus, but she replied: “No, I don’t mind.”
And when we asked Arabella, 23, if any coronavirus precautions would be taken, she replied: “Of course, baby. I’ll show when you are here.” She added a client could take a shower first.
Megara added: “Once you enter sex work, you tend to be excluded from other job markets.
“The minute you put ‘sex work’ on your CV, because of the stigma surrounding it, people will automatically assume you’re a drug addict or alcoholic or have mental health issues.”
She has applied for 50 driving jobs but didn’t receive a single response.
Megara added: “Places are crying out for drivers but they won’t take me as a sex worker.
“Sex workers are generally self-employed and Government help for self-employed workers isn’t coming in until June.
“I’ve decided to move online and that’s what many people have done.
“I’m doing cam and phone work but that’s been frustrated by people not spending and individuals who have looked at this crisis and decided to get into sex work themselves.
“Webcam sites are being flooded by new people with no experience.
“It’s difficult to go from charging whatever per session into this competitive market.”