The Metropolitan Police Service has introduced a pilot scheme in North London aimed at changing how officers interact with street sex workers. The initiative involves deploying dedicated two-officer female teams to engage directly with individuals in the sex trade, rather than focusing primarily on enforcement and criminalization.

This policy shift comes in the wake of internal assessments regarding the force's past failings in its approach to this demographic. By prioritizing engagement over arrest, the force intends to rebuild trust and address the safety concerns of those working on the street. While the program is currently limited to a specific pilot area, it represents a notable departure from traditional policing methods that have historically relied on the criminal justice system to manage sex work. The move acknowledges that previous strategies may have hindered the ability of police to protect vulnerable individuals or gather information on criminal activity affecting the community.