Just had someone make a booking, show up at the door and flash his badge and say he's with the police, three more people then showed up at the door including a woman and said they were with the safeguarding team, they asked if they could look around and I asked if they had a warrant and they said again it was just a check that I wasn't being controlled etc and I said I wasn't and asked them to leave, they rang my phone to check it was on the premises and then left.

Does anyone else have any experience of this sort of thing? I've reported the number and details to NUM, if anyone in Hampshire wants the number let me know

Gosh that sounds so stressful! Do the police even have a right to do that and to pose as a punter to make them see you? It sounds so strange, I hope you’re not too shaken up x

Thanks, yeah it was pretty bizarre and stressful!  I don't think it would relate to a neighbour complaint because they wouldn't have easily been able to connect my ads with my address, and I also have previously had dealings with the police which wasn't related to sex work but they were aware that I was a sex worker

Also I found a recent article in my local paper about the police running a safeguarding operation round the area, which has involved raids and such, so I guess it was part of a more general operation than a specific targeted visit, but why they're doing it by making fake bookings I have no clue, honestly I mostly pissed off at the lost money now!!

Did they leave you their card or any contact info? They usually do give you something of the visit or incase you do need their help.

For a foreign woman not living yet in the UK like myself, this situation is particularly worrying and stressful, I'm very grateful it was reported here in such a detailed manner.
The idea that the Police over there might try to help a SW in such an invasive (and not totally legal) way seems to me quite controversial.

Yes sounds like because it was such a shock in that situation we only think of things to say when they have gone.

I would imagine there is times that some women might be grateful they showed up if they are trafficked or being intimidated by a third party.

Least they left and probably won't be back to visit you.

that's good to know that NUM helped you with that, I am currently back and forth with them about it