About My-Local-Escorts.co.uk

Our origins trace back to around 2006. The website centrefoldescorts.co.uk, originally developed for a client project, unexpectedly became available. Seizing the opportunity during the pivotal shift from print advertising to the internet, we repurposed it into one of the early online directories with an initial focus on escorts in Stoke-on-Trent.

In those early days, the site was manually updated using basic HTML, with profiles submitted via email. Despite its simplicity, the platform quickly demonstrated significant user interest and delivered positive results for listed escorts. This feedback validated the need for a reliable, locally-focused online directory.

This initial success inspired the creation of My-Local-Escorts.co.uk, envisioned as a comprehensive platform covering all local areas across the United Kingdom. For a time, it grew alongside dedicated regional sites. However, recognising the need for a scalable and unified user experience, we undertook a major technical overhaul around 2009.

This redevelopment introduced automation for profile submissions and management, transforming the site into the dynamic directory it has grown into today. As search engine best practices evolved, favouring single, authoritative domains, we consolidated all operations under My-Local-Escorts.co.uk. This focus allowed us to continuously enhance the platform, earning a reputation as a trusted and established name within the UK's escort advertising industry.

To ensure sustainability and to fund ongoing development, modest listing fees were introduced early in our journey, allowing us to consistently reinvest in improving the platform and user experience.

As one of the UK's most established and reliable online directories, My-Local-Escorts.co.uk is dedicated to responsibly connecting consenting adults with professional escorts and reputable agencies operating legally within the United Kingdom, including the Channel Islands.

Our core mission is built upon several key commitments:

• Legality and Responsibility: We operate strictly within the UK's legal framework, often exceeding regulatory requirements based on guidance from our specialist legal advisors. We are committed to ethical practices and, where required, proactive self-regulation to ensure platform integrity.
• Quality and Trust: We strive to maintain the highest standards for listing accuracy and platform functionality, fostering a trustworthy environment through transparency and honesty in our operations.
• Continuous Improvement: The online landscape evolves rapidly. We are dedicated to constantly enhancing My-Local-Escorts.co.uk, adding valuable features and refining the user experience to ensure it remains intuitive, effective, and secure for both advertisers and users.
• User Value: Our purpose is to provide exceptional value - simplifying the search for users seeking connections while offering advertisers a professional, safe, and effective platform to showcase their services.

Looking ahead, while our current focus remains within the UK, we are exploring potential future expansion into other international jurisdictions, always ensuring strict adherence to local laws and regulations before entering any new market.

Operating legally and ethically within the United Kingdom is a foundational principle of My-Local-Escorts.co.uk. We are committed to ensuring our platform functions in full compliance with all applicable UK laws and regulations.

To help us with the UK legal implications and to ensure we comply with all regulations, that our internal policies, and terms of service are correct, we have employed the services of solicitors to keep us informed of ever-changing regulations, including instructing and taking advice from King's Counsel level barristers. This ongoing communication with specialist law firms ensures our business model remains well within current legislation and regulatory expectations.

Our commitment extends beyond the required compliance and often exceeds this. We maintain and enforce strict internal content approval policies, including robust Age Verification processes for all advertisers and an ongoing Content Monitoring policy. These procedures involve proactive measures, such as automated flagging systems and manual review of all profile content, designed to uphold platform integrity, prevent misuse, and identify potentially harmful activity or “bad players”.

We work hard not only to meet but often to exceed standard legal requirements and regulations!

Furthermore, we are committed to cooperating fully and proactively with UK law enforcement agencies when required or requested, assisting their efforts to combat illegal activity and ensure public safety. We are proud to say we have assisted the police on several occasions to help protect vulnerable women and have even been able to provide “convicting evidence“ on occasions.

We recognise the importance of ongoing vigilance and conduct regular reviews of our compliance measures, platform safeguards, and operational practices in light of legal guidance and evolving regulations (of which we are firm believers this industry needs tighter regulations and clearer defined laws). Our commitment to legal and ethical operation is also reflected in our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

The safety of all our users and the integrity of our platform are paramount. We achieve this through rigorous operational processes, ongoing technical best practices, and a fundamental commitment to responsible platform management.

Content Moderation and Verification

We maintain high standards through a comprehensive content moderation process for all profile submissions and subsequent updates. This involves a combination of automated systems designed to flag potential issues and meticulous manual review by our dedicated team, guided by our evolving internal policies. Profiles that do not meet our standards may be declined or suspended, and associated data may be retained internally to help identify and prevent future attempts to misuse the platform.

Furthermore, we utilise a robust verification system. While advertisers can voluntarily provide verification images and proof of age to enhance their profile's authenticity, we may also require such verification during the initial profile review (particularly if submitted photos raise questions about legal age) or as part of subsequent content updates or investigations before a profile is approved or reinstated. This process helps us confirm identity, ensure advertisers meet legal age requirements, and maintain the authenticity of profile photos. Our goal is to foster a high-quality, compliant platform and prevent misuse.

User Reporting and Safety Protocols

Every profile features a "Report Profile" link, enabling users to alert us to concerns. Our reporting process prioritises immediate safety: we prominently advise users to contact UK law enforcement or the independent charity Crime Stoppers directly if they suspect anyone is in immediate danger.

For reports submitted directly to us regarding potential scams or policy violations, we conduct thorough investigations. Actions taken depend on the findings and may include, but are not limited to, requesting further verification, profile suspension, or permanent removal. In specific situations where potential evidence may be relevant to an official investigation, we can secure account access to preserve information.

Advertiser Reviews

Our advertiser review system allows users to share feedback. While most reviews reflect positive experiences, we monitor all feedback, particularly negative reviews, as one of several signals that may indicate potential issues requiring further investigation or action.

Cooperation with Law Enforcement

We are committed to cooperating fully and proactively with UK law enforcement agencies. We respond promptly to official requests and will provide necessary information held by us to assist investigations and support public safety efforts, as outlined in our Terms & Conditions. We have assisted authorities on several occasions, including instances where information we provided proved crucial.

Data Protection and Privacy

Protecting user privacy and handling personal data responsibly are core commitments at My-Local-Escorts.co.uk, particularly given the nature of our service. We strive to store the minimum amount of personal data necessary.

We adhere carefully to the principles and requirements of UK data protection laws, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Our data collection, based entirely on information provided by users or their authorised representatives, is limited to what is essential for providing our services, maintaining account functionality, ensuring platform security, and meeting our legal obligations.

Securing your data is a priority. We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures (detailed further in our Technical Security Measures section) to safeguard the information entrusted to us.

We believe strongly in user control over personal data. Reflecting this, we offer functionality that often exceeds the standard "Right to Be Forgotten." Users have the ability to instantly and permanently delete their account and all associated profile data, including submitted messages and images, directly through their account settings at any time. We also process direct requests for account/profile deletion promptly, typically within 24 hours.

This deletion process is irreversible and removes personal data from our active systems. While we maintain secure, scheduled server backups for service continuity and security, deleted data is permanently removed from these backups as they are overwritten according to our retention schedule. The only exception involves anonymised payment transaction data, which we are legally required to retain for accounting purposes but is fully disconnected from any identifiable personal information after account deletion.

For comprehensive details on how we collect, use, store, and protect your data, please see our full Privacy Policy here.

Technical Security Measures

Maintaining robust technical security is a top priority for My-Local-Escorts.co.uk, especially given the sensitive nature of the content and our users' expectation of privacy. We implement multiple layers of security to protect our platform and user data:

• Secure Connections: All connections to our website are enforced over HTTPS, utilising strong SSL/TLS encryption to protect data transmitted between your browser and our servers. We further enhance connection security through the implementation of HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security), which instructs browsers to only communicate with our site over secure connections.
• Network Protection: Our infrastructure is safeguarded by robust, multi-layered firewall systems to prevent unauthorised access and protect against network-level threats.
• Payment Security: We adhere strictly to the relevant Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) requirements to ensure payment information is handled securely. Furthermore, we utilise secure payment protocols like Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode during transaction processing.
• System Maintenance & Monitoring: We are committed to maintaining a secure operational environment through continuous 24/7 system monitoring, regular automated and manual software updates, and proactive security configuration management.
• Vulnerability Management: Regular security assessments are conducted to proactively identify and address potential vulnerabilities, ensuring the ongoing integrity and resilience of our platform.

Our operations and platform development are guided by a core set of values that prioritise our users, advertisers, and responsible business practices:

Integrity and Transparency

We believe in operating with honesty and clarity. Our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy are readily accessible and aim to be clear about our processes. We strive for transparency in our business practices and communication.

User Safety and Well-being

The safety of everyone using our platform is our utmost priority. We implement rigorous content moderation and verification processes (as detailed in the Platform Integrity section) to minimise risks and prevent misuse. We provide clear pathways for users to report concerns and prioritise directing individuals to law enforcement in potentially dangerous situations. Our commitment to safety includes responsible content classification, demonstrated by our use of the RTA (Restricted to Adults) content rating system (verify here).

Quality and Authenticity

We prioritise quality over quantity. We believe users deserve genuine listings and actively work to prevent fake or scam profiles from appearing on our site, even if this means having fewer listings than some competitors. Our verification processes aim to ensure the authenticity of advertisers and their content. We are committed to providing an accurate and reliable directory service.

Legality and Responsibility

Operating strictly within UK law is non-negotiable (as detailed in our Legal Compliance section). We take our responsibilities as a platform operator seriously, adhering to relevant standards such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) for secure operations. We believe in proactive self-regulation and often implement measures that exceed baseline legal requirements.

Privacy and Discretion

We understand the importance of privacy in this sector. We are committed to robust data protection practices (detailed in the Data Protection section) and provide users with strong control over their personal information, including comprehensive deletion options. We aim to provide a discreet platform experience.

Respect for Rights

We respect the rights of our users, advertisers, and intellectual property holders. We provide clear channels for addressing concerns, including copyright issues via our registration with DMCA.com's Protection Pro service (view status).

Plain Speaking and Honesty

While legal documents like our Terms & Conditions are necessarily detailed, we fundamentally believe in operating honestly and treating everyone fairly - just as we would wish to be treated ourselves. If you ever have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us.

For general enquiries, support, or feedback, the primary way to reach us is via email: enquiries@my-local-escorts.co.uk.

Our dedicated Contact Us page provides further contact options and contains important guidance regarding emergency situations, including when and how to contact law enforcement agencies or Crime Stoppers directly. We encourage you to visit this page for comprehensive contact details.