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Search forComplaints over city kerb-crawlers and prostitutes fall 60%
Monday, October 20, 2008, 07:30
Police say a two-pronged attack on prostitution and kerb-crawling has reduced the number of complaints received from the public.
Police received 111 calls about prostitution from April 2007 to March 2008 compared with 301 from April 2005 to March 2006 – down 63%.
Officers said that while they were pleased with the figures, they were concerned that prostitution was still going on behind closed doors.
Detective Superintendent Andy Hough said: "The only worry is that the trade gets driven indoors.
"The biggest issue for us now is that of underground prostitution – particularly the exploitation and human-trafficking aspects.
"It is very difficult to detect but the message we are very keen to get across is that we want to identify women who are being sexually exploited.
"We are also keen to receive any information concerning the management of prostitution.
"It is quite possible that a woman who has come into the country from elsewhere is being held against her will or is working to cover the cost of coming into the UK.
"We haven't found much evidence of this in Derby but the fact that we have not found it doesn't mean it is not there. We are wise enough to know that it does go on."
To help combat prostitution, the police teamed up with Derby Community Safety Partnership to launch a campaign that included billboard posters carrying the slogan: Kerb Crawling – It Costs More Than You Think.
These were put up in areas where prostitution is a problem.
They warned that people caught kerb-crawling could face fines of £1,000 and that courts had the power to confiscate their driving licences.
The posters were put up at the junctions of Osmaston Park Road and Portland Street; Normanton Road and Leopold Street; Burton Road and Mount Street.
Radio adverts were aired in the evenings and mobile CCTV cameras used to monitor the problem.
Police have also been seeking to charge kerb-crawlers and prostitutes.
If there was not enough evidence to charge them, drivers of cars seen loitering in the area were sent warning letters.
Meanwhile, officers have been working with Derby charity Women's Work to help prostitutes.
A team of seven staff and 24 volunteers take part in out-reach sessions.
They take to the streets from 10pm to midnight, three nights a week.
They offer women advice on drug treatment, sexual health, counselling and housing.
They also run a drop-in centre where the women can get showers and food.
Dionne Reid, chief executive of the charity, said: "I think the figures are quite reflective. We have noticed the number of women we see has been going down.
"Working collaboratively with the police and other organisations has really had quite an impact."
Anyone with information about prostitution is asked to call police on 0845 123 3333 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
waning: Scenes like this are less frequent after campaign
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