Prostitutes and kerb crawlers watch out: Police issue 25 warnings in blitz on vice hot-spots
Police have pledged to tackle prostitution after dishing out 25 warnings to vice girls and kerb crawlers in just one month.
Neighbourhood officers from St Matthews carried out the patrols on Wednesbury Road, Walsall, throughout September.
They handed out 15 first warnings and five second warnings to sex workers, while issuing five men with kerb crawling notices.
They today pledged to continue cracking down on prostitution in the area, which has been identified as a 'vice area'.
Sergeant Julie Whiting, of the St Matthews neighbourhood team, said: "Prostitution continues to be one of our priorities on the St Matthews neighbourhood.
"We understand that this activity has a very negative impact on the community and local area.
"It is our aim to make this area a 'No Go' area for sex workers to loiter by targeting them and challenging those found committing offences of kerb crawling.
"Any persons found committing offences of kerb crawling or loitering for the purpose of prostitution will be dealt with robustly.
"The team will patrol the recognised area of Wednesbury Road and surrounding streets to deter street prostitution.
"Identified street sex workers will be subject to interventions including warnings, cautions, arrest, charge and diversion.
"Persons found soliciting can be arrested, upon charge they will appear at court and potentially receive a disqualification from driving.
"During the month of September officers completed overt and covert patrols of Wednesbury Road Walsall and other local streets that have been identified as a vice area.
"These patrols were conducted between 8pm and 2am in the morning as a result 15 sex workers received first street warnings and a further 5 received second street warnings.
"Five men were issued with kerb crawling notices and one was arrested for driving whilst disqualified."
The clampdown follows on from increasing complaints in August from residents in Caldmore, who reported discarded sexual protection and associated drug paraphernalia littering the area.
Wednesbury Road and others leading off it were identified as 'hot spots'.
Councillor Aftab Nawaz, who represents the St Matthews ward, said he 'has faith' that the neighbourhood team will stamp out the problem and urged the public to 'show compassion' for the plight of the prostitutes themselves.
He said: "It isn't great, I know that as a councillor for the area and I do share the residents concerns.
"However, I have to say that I have faith in our neighbourhood police team to solve this issue, they have been very proactive in recent weeks.
"It isn't a situation where we can just fire fight the problem, we need to look at the root cause and encourage these women to change their lives."
