Becky Webster, a former NHS worker turned full-time sex worker in the U.K., faced another financial barrier when Barclays Bank froze her account, leaving her unable to access her son’s state benefit payment for over a week. This incident marked the 15^th time she had been denied a bank account or had one shut down due to her occupation in the sex industry, reports the Financial Times. In response, Webster launched a petition urging MPs to ensure that individuals working in the sex industry have access to banking services, garnering over 11,000 signatures.

“I’ve applied for a bank account, a business bank account and as soon as I get to ‘what’s your occupation’ and I put the sex industry, it just won’t let me carry on,” said Webster, adding: “So you want me to pay taxes but you want to take bank accounts off me?”

Webster’s experience sheds light on a broader issue of financial exclusion faced by sex workers, where many are unfairly denied basic financial services. The problem extends beyond Webster’s case, affecting thousands of individuals.

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