manchester news
Wednesday, 24th August 2005
Prostitutes told to keep away from homes
Bethan Dorsett CRIME boss Councillor Lynne Brosnan is on the beat to find out how police are combating prostitution in Deeplish.
She has joined officers during their weekly patrols of the area to gain a first-hand insight into the issue – which included discussing the problem with the women who work on the strreets.
The move comes weeks after MP Paul Rowen slammed police initiatives to combat prostitution.
Despite a successful kerb-crawling clampdown earlier this month, he claimed police initiatives were not ‘making a jot of difference.’
Councillor Brosnan said: “We spoke to about six or seven women. They were quite good and accepted the message that they shouldn’t be soliciting their trade in residential areas. They are a community in themselves and their networking is fantastic, so the message will get round quickly.”
She added: “At the last cabinet meeting, there were questions put to me regarding the problem from Paul Rowen and Councilor Angela Coric. I said I would go out to the streets, see what was going on and, if necessary, warn the girls.
Presence
“I think the police presence is working, in particular with the kerb-crawlers, but there is a lot of work that needs to be done. The fact that prostitution results from a very serious drug problem has to be recognised, where the women are selling their bodies to fund their habits.
“I will be keeping an eye on the situation and am hoping to be looking at other problems, like youths causing a nuisance and see how the boroughwide alcohol ban is going.”
Inspector Chris Hill led Operation Sentia in May, which resulted in 25 suspected kerb-crawlers being brought before the courts.
The problem was first highlighted last year by the Deeplish Action Group, which led a peaceful march through the streets and later by Milkstone and Deeplish Area Forum.
Mr Hill insists he has received no recent complaints and has even been sent a letter of thanks from the forum.
He said: “When I first started at Rochdale there was a massive problem with prostitution and because of that we launched a successful operation against the kerb-crawlers. We are continuing to look at these issues and are returning to the area on a weekly basis.
“We have made a difference and if anyone wants to speak to me about it I am always available.”
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