Sex workers drawn by oil-rich reputation

The sex trade in Aberdeen has exploded in recent years – with far fewer prostitutes working on the streets but many more escorts drawn by the city’s oilrich reputation.

And it appears the downturn in the industry has not affected the numbers of girls making themselves available on a daily basis.

A growing number of websites which allow women to advertise their services and availability in the city have appeared online.

On one website alone, there are about 100 women selling sex on any given day in Aberdeen for upwards of £100 an hour. In the Highlands, about 30 escorts are available each day.

Police have previously estimated that the sex trade is worth £1.3million a month – although they admit the true sum could be many times higher.

And as long as the women are not working under the same roof as other call girls, what they are doing is perfectly legal.

A specialist team visits the women regularly to check they are not being forced to work and ensure they feel confident about approaching police if they have concerns.

In some cases, women have been able to give the police valuable information about sex offenders and violent clients.

Following Jessica McGraa’s death, the organisation Drugs Action revealed many prostitutes had contacted it with concerns for their well-being when visiting clients.

In November 2015 the police announced its association with the National Ugly Mugs scheme, a well-established and nationally recognised reporting method for prostitutes to use to highlight those they believe pose a threat to them.