Sex worker organisations throughout Australia (and overseas) maintain “ugly mug” lists. Ugly mugs are clients who behave badly towards sex workers. An ugly mug report sets out the details of the client and his behaviour to warn other workers to watch out for him. They are a safety tool used by sex workers to look out for each other.
How are they used?
Ugly mug reports are not only for assault or rape. They are for any client you want to warn other workers about.
For example, if you have a client who is violent, threatening, pushy, rude, sleazy, manipulative, abusive to you on the phone, tries to take the condom off during the service, or just gives you the creeps generally, you should fill out an ugly mug report.
What happens to the report?
Once you have filled in a report, return it to SWOP as soon as possible. SWOP will then get the report out to both agency and private workers. This way, if another worker is contacted by the ugly mug, they will be forewarned.
Confidentiality
Ugly mug reports are confidential. They remain the property of SWOP ACT and are not released to the police or anyone else. The reports are for Sex Workers Only.
Other states
SWOPs in other states, eg. NSW and VIC, publish lists of ugly mugs regularly in their newsletters. You can contact interstate SWOPs by phone or website. Contact details can be found in the links section.
Blank Ugly Mug Reports are provided in this folder and can also be obtained by contacting SWOP ACT.
Remember, this is a system designed by sex workers to protect sex workers. Use it to keep yourself and your colleagues safe!