Soliciting Clients: What Sex Workers Need to Know About Safety, Law, and Strategy

When you’re soliciting clients, the act of approaching or advertising for paid companionship, often in public or semi-public spaces. Also known as street-based sex work, it’s one of the most visible—and most regulated—forms of sex work in the UK and beyond. It’s not just about finding people willing to pay. It’s about staying alive, avoiding arrest, and keeping your dignity intact in a system that often treats you like a problem instead of a person.

Many people assume soliciting clients means standing on a street corner, but it’s more complex than that. It includes texting potential clients from a parked car, posting on local forums, using dating apps with coded language, or even nodding to someone who pulls over. The law doesn’t always distinguish between these methods, and police often target the most visible forms—making outdoor work especially risky. That’s why understanding your rights during a police encounter, knowing where to find emergency exits, and having a safety plan aren’t optional. They’re survival tools. The same goes for sex work laws, the patchwork of local and national regulations that define what’s legal, what’s a crime, and who gets punished. In the UK, while selling sex isn’t illegal, activities around it—like loitering, kerb-crawling, or sharing premises—are. That means even if you’re not breaking the law directly, your environment can be used against you.

That’s why client screening, the process of gathering information about a potential client before meeting them to reduce risk matters even more when you’re soliciting. A quick call-back, a shared vehicle license plate, or a reference from another worker can make the difference between a safe meeting and a dangerous one. Tools like discreet alarms, GPS trackers, and trusted peers who know your location aren’t luxuries—they’re part of the job. And while some think moving indoors solves everything, indoor work has its own risks: landlords who report you, online platforms that ban you, or clients who bring violence into a space meant to feel safe.

There’s no perfect way to solicit clients without risk—but there are smarter ways. The posts below don’t sugarcoat it. They show you how others have navigated police encounters, built safety nets, avoided scams, and stayed out of court. You’ll find real stories about how sex workers in the UK and beyond have turned dangerous situations into manageable ones. Whether you’re working outdoors, online, or in a flat, the core challenge stays the same: control the environment, control the terms, and control your safety. These aren’t just tips. They’re lessons learned the hard way—and they’re here to help you do better.