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Sex for sale on streets of Burnley
PROSTITUTES who sell sex on the streets of Burnley and the kerb crawlers who seek their services have been the target of a hard-hitting police crackdown.
A team of specialist officers took to the streets around Duke Bar, Daneshouse and Stoneyholme, Queensgate and Bank Hall on Wednesday night as part of Operation Kerb.
Officers trawled car parks, secluded spots and known routes used by sex workers.
They arrested a 32-year-old Polish man driving a BMW for kerb crawling in Ormerod Road shortly after 9-30 p.m. He was taken to the police station where he admitted the offence and was given a caution.
Police also stopped and searched a woman suspected of loitering for the purposes of prostitution, spoke to six girls thought to be involved in selling sex, investigated cars parked in beauty spots and paid a visit to a house in Reed Street, Burnley Wood, after a tip-off a girl was taking punters to the property.
The operation was in direct response to complaints from residents about girls touting for business outside their homes.
Sgt Carole Langhorn who led the operation, one of three such drives in recent months, was pleased with the outcome and said officers collected valuable intelligence about cars driving around the area suspected of looking for sex workers.
"If we aren't finding them loitering or soliciting then it's working. The fact we've arrested someone is good as it's very difficult to prove. He was obviously there for that purpose. I think it went well.
"On the first operation we arrested five and the last one we arrested three.This time they weren't loitering all over the place so that means the message is getting through."
Sgt Langhorn stressed that all women arrested for prostitution are provided with support to find accommodation and tackle drink or drug problems and said the problem of prostitution was no worse in Burnley than in other parts of the country.
"The problem in Burnley is no greater than anywhere else. It's an ongoing problem and residents notice it more in the summer because of the lighter nights and people are out later. What we do well is work with partner agencies and run an arrest referral scheme. Women who are arrested are given access to outreach workers and can get help with drugs treatment or housing and other issues.
"Most of the women have significant problems with drugs. Out of the sex workers known to us at the moment, all of them have substance problems."
Since the operation was launched, police have arrested one sex offender, five women have quit prostitution, five have been placed on planned reduction programmes and three women have been re-located outside Burnley. More than 50% of sex workers in the town are now receiving treatment.
Suspected kerb crawlers are sent warning letters from the police while those caught looking for the services of prostitues are arrested. Some of them face prosecution along with other sanctions such as the loss of their driving licence.
"The partnership work has got better over the years. At one time sex workers would've gone to court and got a fine but then would be obliged to 'work' to pay it off. Now they are given engagement and support orders to help them deal with their issues," added Sgt Langhorn.
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Weather for Clitheroe
Sunday 05 February 2012
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