Police Raids on Suspected Brothels in Edinburgh Raise Concerns for Sex Worker Safety
17 September 2025
Police Scotland confirmed last week that nine premises across Edinburgh and East Lothian were raided under suspicion of “brothel keeping,” leading to three arrests and seven people being described as “safeguarded.”
While National Ugly Mugs (NUM) recognises the importance of tackling exploitation, we are deeply concerned about the impact that such large-scale raids can have on sex workers’ safety, rights, and livelihoods. Experience shows that operations of this kind often displace people, driving sex work further underground. This can increase risks of violence, make it harder for sex workers to report crimes, and undermine trust between sex workers and the police. The lack of detail on what “safeguarding” means in practice, and what support was actually provided to those affected, leaves important questions unanswered. NUM calls for transparency and accountability from Police Scotland:
- Clear reporting on how many people were safeguarded, how this was achieved, and what long-term support is in place.
- Assurance that those working consensually are not penalised or put at greater risk through loss of housing, income, or immigration security.
- A commitment to working alongside sex worker-led organisations to ensure operations do not cause greater harm than they prevent.