A charity has been accused of ‘opening the door to abuse and child exploitation’ after it said workers were allowed to sleep with their clients.
Yorkshire Mesmac, based in Leeds, is being investigated by the city council’s child safeguarding board after its shocking policy was revealed.
The charity, which has received more than £2million in funding from the government, councils and police, performs outreach to victims of child abuse, sex workers and gay men.
Yorkshire Mesmac, based in Leeds, is being investigated by the city council’s child safeguarding board after its shocking policy was revealed
Its policy tells employees: ‘Sexual relationships are acceptable with service users initially met during work time, but this would be inappropriate if the service user has entered into a 1-2-1 or ongoing support relationship with the worker’, reports the Sunday Times.
It has been slammed as ‘extraordinary’ and ‘disturbing’ by child protection expert Jessica Eaton, who claimed it ‘opened the door for abuse and child exploitation.’
The charity, which helped 60,000 people across Yorkshire last year, said it was now re-writing its policy and that the directive had been misunderstood.
Chief executive, Tom Doyle, explained that MESMAC’s work can include giving out free condoms at pub or clubs and anyone who receives a condom is therefore ‘technically’ a service user.
He then went on to say, if the two people then meet again at another setting, ‘we think it is acceptable for them to develop a relationship’.
Mr Doyle added: ‘We accept that read out of context this could be misconstrued. All staff undergo an extensive induction programme, including a full walk through of our priority policies, which includes safeguarding.
‘Staff at Yorkshire MESMAC are in no doubt about safeguarding.’