The Dovetail Initiative was developed in 2010 by Diane Martin. Before this, for fourteen years Diane led a project in Lambeth enablling women to exit prostitution. During this time, Diane became increasingly aware that responses to prostitution were often disjointed, lacking in coordination and political direction.

Building on advisory work with a number of local authorities, Diane founded the Dovetail Initiative as a means to emphasise the need for a joined-up approach to prostitution, as well as to enable national and local authorities to develop a clear and holistic prostitution strategy.