Hello everyone,

I am part of an organisation that is looking at ways to revamp the prostitution industry in this country.

We are wanting to conduct some research through speaking to escorts and clients to hear your views on your current experiences of providing or using these services. We also want to know your opinions on some of the ideas we have to make this age old profession as safe and socially conscientious as possible for all.

If you are interested please drop me an email at: mail@jamesesses.com.

Thank you in advance!

Hello Amy,

Thanks for the reply! I am personally leading a new start-up business in the UK. The aim is to create a website/app that helps to bring escorting to a much wider market but to ensure both the financial and physical safety of the escorts in the process.

I am of the opinion that this is an age-old industry that will always exist but that we should make it as modern, accessible and secure as possible.

There are a number of functional and safety features I am thinking of implementing that I would particularly like to gauge some views on before going ahead and creating the design.

If anyone would be willing to help I would love to meet up, grab a coffee and I could run my idea past you and you could let me know your thoughts, opinions, critiques, etc.

I won't take up much of your time, am happy to work around your schedule and will of course treat you to the most expensive coffee and cake on the menu to thank you for your assistance!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated

And moved to the correct section.

James, as VR says above we're not here to do your halfarsed market research for you for free. Please be clear as to what your questions are, post them here and then if anybody has time they can answer them.

Hi James

So what is it you are trying to do exactly?  You say you want to launch a website and an app but also that you want to revise the industry and make it more socially acceptable?

Can you be a bit more specific please?

CG

Then you can identify this organisation and describe it's objectives, and explain how/on behalf on whom you intend to 'revamp' UK prostitution. You will also tell us who is responsible for supervising this research, please. The Hotmail address you've used to register doesn't give much away.

James, you haven't addressed the points in Amy's email. If you are serious, please do so.

I agree. Why can't any of this be discussed here on an open sex workers forum? Why do you need to meet us in person?

Surely the wide range of views we can express in numbers on here is better than taking up our expensive time meeting just a couple of escorts in person...

Hello everyone,

Thanks for responding!

I will set out below exactly what this is all about (but be warned it's quite a mouthful!).

From the outset this is a business proposal. However, I have some key social aims for it as well.



In essence what I have created is the Tinder/Uber of Escorting and Prostitution in the UK. To see something similar check out a German website called 'Peppr' (though I feel what they have created has a lot of flaws and is too tacky!).

From the outset I realise this will cause controversy and that it is a sensitive area. However, prostitution has been around since the beginning of time, will always continue to exist and so I want to create the safest and most socially conscientious form possible.

I want this 'app' to act as a middleman between clients and providers. It is not pimping and there is no form of control involved. The escorts:

Create their own profiles.
Set their own prices.
Offer whatever services they wish (whether sexual or non sexual).
Choose whether to accept any client that puts forward an offer.

Whilst there are many escort agencies and directories online, I feel these are flawed. They can be tacky and cheap. They are difficult to navigate and aesthetically are awful. There is also something quite seedy and taboo about them which means that they are failing to attract a large chunk of the public. This is why more and more escorts are turning to creating their own websites.

I feel this app is the perfect opportunity for truly self-employed escorts to reach a wider client base. And by adding certain functions, making it look slick and respectable and even just the fact that it is in an 'app' form, will, I hope, make the idea of using an escort far more socially acceptable and encourage far more people (especially younger generations) to try it out.

The following are the functions for the app and the benefits I feel they hold:

All escorts that wish to sign up go through a very easy phone interview to confirm that they are truly self employed and are not involved in this line of work through duress or pressure from someone else (Obviously this isn't a perfect method but it goes towards trying to ensure that the providers are doing this of their own free will).

A slick and easy to use filter system for clients to search for exactly what services they want. This would include searching via location, seeing who is "available and online" (in a Tinder style) near to them and all the usual filters in terms of services offered and physical appearance.

An "offer and acceptance system". The client makes an offer for a booking and the provider must accept this.

Communication. This can be done through 2 ways:
In-built text messaging system OR
A telephone call using phone number randomisation software. When you use uber and you contact the driver or they contact you, you never
actually have each other's phone number. There is software which puts you through to them via the app without showing you their number and meaning you could never try and contact them again after the transaction. By using this in the app, escorts can call and vet clients as usual while maintaining privacy.

An electronic payment system. Any payment is made electronically and is paid over as the booking is made. These are completely cashless transactions. This helps to ensure that there are no issues regarding payment and provides financial security to both parties. There will also be the chance for providers to supply discount codes to loyal clients for example.

Panic Button-A red button on the app for the escort. It will have a link directly through to the police (or an individual of your choosing) to say that you are in trouble and need help. Again, whilst not perfect, it adds some level of added security.

In built privacy protection at every stage to ensure all details of both client and provider cannot be accessed by anyone.

Ratings and Reviews: At the end of the meeting, the escort can rate (out of 5 stars) and review the client in detail. This information will not be accessible by the client but will be able to be seen by all other escorts when deciding whether to accept an offer from this individual. Again, this is trying to put wellbeing and safety first. The clients will also have an opportunity to rate and review the escort.

In-app safety information for clients and escorts. This includes safe-sex practise. Also, there will be no opportunity for providers to offer or for clients to request unprotected sex via the app.

A percentage of the profits will be donated to anti-human trafficking charities.


The app is completely free to use for both clients and escorts and there is no membership or joining fee.

From all of this, the app would take a booking fee, which is a cut from the overall price charged by the escort. Uber takes up to 25% from their drivers. I was considering 5-10%, which to my mind is a lot less than escorts have to pay over in massage parlours, saunas, brothels etc,

I feel the app can substantially increase business for self-employed escorts whilst allowing them to retain control over absolutely everything.



I am sure some of you won't approve but I ask that if you are against this please don't have a "go" at me! I'm not trying to wind up or upset anyway.  I'm just very passionate about this and what to see where it goes and feedback would be extremely helpful.

I have never worked in this industry but it has always fascinated me.

I'm actually a Criminal Defence Barrister.

I think that the escort industry is brilliant and I'm a big campaigner to have the criminal laws changed in this country because I fear it does hinder you all.

I feel prostitution will be around until the end of time and so why not make it as safe and modern as possible. That's all