National Ugly Mugs

National Ugly Mugs
AbbreviationNUM
Formation2008; 17 years ago (2008)
Founded atManchester
TypeNonprofit
HeadquartersManchester, England
Region served
United Kingdom
CEO
Lynsey Walton
Websitenationaluglymugs.org Edit this at Wikidata
Formerly called
UK Network of Sex Work Projects

National Ugly Mugs (NUM) is a British charity best known for its "ugly mugs list" service that allows sex workers to share details of dangerous clients.

It was first established in 2008[1] as the UK Network of Sex Work Projects (UKNSWP), a charity based in Manchester that acted as an umbrella organisation representing sex work projects in the UK,[2] both agencies or individuals working with sex workers.[3] It facilitated networking between those it represents, so as to share good practice about providing quality support services for sex workers.[4]

In July 2012 UKNSWP launched the National Ugly Mugs scheme, a national third party reporting system for sex workers that issues alerts to sex workers via their smartphone, and feeds intelligence to police, aiming to reduce offending by dangerous serial sexual offenders.[2]

It was one of five winners of the Guardian Charity Awards 2014.[2]

The charity was later renamed National Ugly Mugs, after the reporting system it founded.[1]

National Ugly Mugs reporting system

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Its namesake service National Ugly Mugs is a third party reporting system for sex workers that issues alerts to sex workers via their smartphone, and feeds intelligence to police, aiming to reduce offending by dangerous serial sexual offenders.[2][5][6][7][8]

The National Ugly Mugs pilot scheme was announced by the UK government in December 2011, with £108,000 provided by the Home Office "to establish a national online network to collate and distribute information between 'ugly mugs' schemes in local areas."[9] Though funded by the Home Office, it was managed independently by UKNSWP.[6][10] The initial pilot scheme went live in Manchester on 6 July 2012[11] and by 2016 was undergoing a larger pilot in London.[8]

The National Ugly Mugs reporting system has continued to operate since then. In 2023, it logged 585 cases of violence.[12] It provides tools for sex workers to be able to receive alerts, to check clients, to report violent or concerning incidents, and to remove unauthorized online content.[13] In addition to the online services, NUM also employs caseworkers who can help sex workers. NUM provides access to their services via their website, email, and telephone.[13]

Other services

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In addition to its National Ugly Mugs service, NUM runs a number of advocacy, education and support services.[13] It also runs NUMbrella Lane (formerly Umbrella Lane) a centre for sex workers in Glasgow, and provides emergency food and toiletries assistance vouchers for sex workers.[14][15]

NUM also publishes a peridical zine, Under The Red Umbrella, written by members of British and Irish sex workers' groups.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b "NATIONAL UGLY MUGS - Charity 1122461". Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Howard, Emma (2 December 2014). "Charity Awards 2014 winners". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  3. ^ "Sex workers and human trafficking helplines". ITV (TV channel). Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  4. ^ "About". uknswp.org. UK Network of Sex Work Projects. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Guardian Charity Award winner 2014: The UK Network of Sex Work Projects – video". The Guardian. London. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  6. ^ a b Feis-Bryce, Alex (14 August 2012). "National Ugly Mugs Scheme - Protecting Sex Workers From Predators". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  7. ^ Wiley, Clare (15 December 2014). "This New App Could Help UK Sex Workers Get Revenge On the Pricks Who Abuse Them". Vice. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  8. ^ a b Speed, Barbara (4 January 2016). "Sex work apps are about more than advertising – they can keep workers safe". New Statesman. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  9. ^ "Pilot to improve safety of workers". Government of the United Kingdom. 17 December 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  10. ^ "London has 'most crimes against sex workers', report finds". BBC News. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  11. ^ Taylor, Diane (5 July 2012). "Sex workers and police join forces to create rapist database". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  12. ^ Brooks, Libby (1 March 2024). "Violence against sex workers 'a daily reality', 20 years after Emma Caldwell murder". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  13. ^ a b c "National Ugly Mugs – Ending All Forms of Violence Against Sex Workers". Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  14. ^ "Happy Anniversary to NUMbrella Lane! – National Ugly Mugs". Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  15. ^ "NUM Vouchers". National Ugly Mugs. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  16. ^ "Under The Red Umbrella". National Ugly Mugs. Retrieved 28 April 2025.

See also

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