The Nordic Model and UK Sex Work: A Dangerous Step Backwards

As UK lawmakers increasingly consider adopting the Nordic Model to regulate sex work, it’s essential for everyone—especially those working in or alongside the adult services industry—to understand what this model entails, who is proposing it, and the real-world consequences it has produced elsewhere. At Sensual Bodyworks, we advocate for the safety, dignity, and autonomy of everyone in the industry. This blog aims to break down what the Nordic Model means, why it's controversial, and what you can do to fight for better, evidence-based approaches to sex work legislation in the UK.

What Is the Nordic Model?

The Nordic Model—sometimes called the Swedish or End Demand Model—is a legal framework first adopted in Sweden in 1999. The core idea is to criminalise the purchase of sexual services (targeting clients), while decriminalising the sale of those services (protecting sex workers).

The model is grounded in the belief that all sex work is inherently exploitative and that eliminating demand will reduce human trafficking and exploitation. It includes support programs meant to help sex workers exit the industry, though these are often poorly funded or inconsistently delivered.

The Nordic Model has since been adopted in several other countries, including Norway, Iceland, France, Canada (partially), and Northern Ireland.

Who Is Proposing It in the UK and Why?

The latest push to introduce the Nordic Model into UK law is coming from Scotland, where Ash Regan, an MSP representing the Alba Party, has launched a consultation on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) Bill.

This bill proposes:

• Making it illegal to buy sex, with fines up to £10,000 or six months’ imprisonment.

• Offering state-funded “exit” services for sex workers.

• Expunging historical convictions related to sex work (a positive step, albeit contradictory to the criminalisation stance).

Supporters of the bill argue that this approach will curb exploitation, reduce trafficking, and promote gender equality. However, it’s notable that many of the organisations backing the Nordic Model have little to no representation from actual sex workers. Critics suggest these efforts are often moralistic in nature, rather than grounded in evidence or harm reduction.

Has It Worked in Other Countries?

Supporters of the Nordic Model point to Sweden as a “success story,” claiming a drop in visible street prostitution and trafficking. However, numerous independent studies challenge this narrative.

Sweden

• Street prostitution may have decreased, but indoor work and online-based sex work have grown.

• Sex workers report greater stigma, increased danger, and less access to police or health services.

• Swedish authorities themselves admit difficulty in measuring the actual number of sex workers, especially with the rise of online platforms.

France

• A 2018 report by Médecins du Monde found:

  • 42% of sex workers reported increased violence since the Nordic Model was implemented.

  • 88% felt less safe in their work environment.

  • 63% reported a decline in living conditions.

Northern Ireland

• Criminalisation of clients in 2015 saw no reduction in demand, according to a 2019 Queen’s University study.

• Reports of client violence increased, and sex workers expressed reluctance to report abuse due to fear of exposure or retribution.

The pattern is clear: in countries where the Nordic Model has been introduced, the intended outcomes (reducing trafficking, promoting gender equality) have not materialised, while harm to sex workers has increased.

What Have the Downsides Been?

Despite good intentions, the Nordic Model produces numerous harms, especially for the very people it claims to protect:

1. Increased Risk and Danger

• Sex workers are forced to rush screening processes or meet clients in isolated areas to avoid police.

• There's less ability to work with safety measures like spotters, security, or discreet call-in systems.

2. Greater Stigma and Isolation

• Criminalising the client reinforces the idea that all sex work is shameful and dangerous.

• Sex workers face increased mental health challenges, social exclusion, and discrimination.

3. Worse Access to Services

• Fear of police interference means workers are less likely to report abuse or seek medical care.

• Migrant sex workers, in particular, face increased risk of detention and deportation.

4. No Real Impact on Trafficking

• There is no reliable evidence that criminalising clients reduces trafficking.

• In fact, it may push trafficking further underground, making it harder to detect and intervene.

  
  

How Will It Affect My Business?

At Sensual Bodyworks, we provide non-penetrative sensual services within a safe, respectful, and consensual environment. But the ripple effects of the Nordic Model will not be limited to traditional sex work.

Reduced Client Confidence

Potential clients may fear legal consequences or reputational damage, reducing bookings even for fully legal, non-sexual services like sensual massage, tantra, and bodywork.

Increased Scrutiny and Misunderstanding

Authorities and the public often fail to differentiate between different forms of adult services. Businesses offering legitimate massage or wellness services may face increased surveillance, raids, or prejudice.

Safety Risks

If clients become more secretive or nervous, it becomes harder to maintain open, honest communication—a cornerstone of safe, consensual adult work.

Arguments for Why It’s a Bad Idea

While the Nordic Model may be well-intentioned, it is fundamentally flawed:

1. It Doesn’t Reduce Demand

People will continue to seek sexual services regardless of legality. The only change is that services move underground, making them less safe and harder to regulate.

2. It Increases Harm

Criminalising any part of consensual adult sex work drives it further into the shadows, increasing risks of violence, coercion, and disease.

3. It Ignores Sex Workers’ Voices

The vast majority of sex workers' rights organisations—including ECP (English Collective of Prostitutes) and SWARM—oppose the Nordic Model. Instead, they call for full decriminalisation and labour rights.

4. It’s Based on Morality, Not Evidence

The model often stems from moralistic or ideological views about sex, rather than public health, human rights, or worker safety.

What You Can Do to Object to the Nordic Model

If you believe in the right of consenting adults to work safely, here are some steps you can take to resist the Nordic Model and promote evidence-based reform:

1. Respond to Consultations

In Scotland, the Prostitution (Offences and Support) Bill is still under consultation. If you're a UK resident, particularly in Scotland, you can:

• Submit a response to the Scottish Government's call for evidence.

• Use resources from Scotland for Decrim or SWARM to guide your response.

• Write to your local MSP or MP expressing your concerns.

2. Support Sex Worker Rights Groups

Donate to or amplify the voices of:

• SWARM (Sex Worker Advocacy and Resistance Movement)

• ECP (English Collective of Prostitutes)

• Umbrella Lane (Scotland)

• National Ugly Mugs (who work to protect sex workers from violence)

3. Share Information

Educate your social circles about the reality of sex work and the dangers of the Nordic Model. Misinformation and stigma thrive in silence—your voice matters.

4. Use Your Vote

Local and national politicians often take stances on sex work. Support candidates and parties that advocate for harm reduction, legalisation, and the rights of adult workers.

Advocating for Legalisation of Sex Work in the UK

The alternative to the Nordic Model isn’t a free-for-all—it’s regulated, decriminalised, and legalised sex work, like in New Zealand, which introduced such a framework in 2003.

Why Legalisation Works

• Better Safety: Workers can legally operate indoors, with colleagues, security, and protection under the law.

• Healthier Communities: Regular testing, access to healthcare, and sex education improve public health.

• Empowerment: Sex work is treated as legitimate labour, helping to combat exploitation and poverty.

Legalisation doesn’t mean a lack of regulation—it means smart regulation that centres worker safety and autonomy.

Final Thoughts

The Nordic Model sounds compassionate on the surface, but in practice it’s punitive, impractical, and dangerous. For businesses like Sensual Bodyworks and the broader adult wellness community, it represents a deep misunderstanding of the industry and a serious threat to safety, freedom, and livelihoods.

If the UK truly wants to reduce harm, support vulnerable individuals, and uphold human rights, it must look beyond outdated ideologies and toward modern, proven solutions: decriminalisation, regulation, and respect.

Let’s work together to make the UK a safer place for everyone—clients, workers, and businesses alike.