Councils from across the country are looking for new ways of tackling prostitution.
A delegation from Middlesbrough recently visited Liverpool to speak to representatives who were at a conference ?The Oldest Profession ? New Ways Forward? held in Liverpool in July. These include Dr John Elford, Provost of Hope at Everton, local residents, Merseyside Police, Liverpool City Council, and health, drug and child protection staff, including people who work directly with prostitutes. The delegation also heard from Marika Van Doornink from the Institute for Prostitution Issues in Amsterdam. Ms Doornink was instrumental in setting up the safe district in that city.
City council executive member for community safety Richard Kemp said: “We?re brave enough to have taken the first step in Liverpool and opened up the serious, adult debate which we must have. It?s not good enough that decent people should have to put up with this sort of activity taking place outside their homes and we need to look seriously at other options. This includes examining the possibility of having a ?managed zone?. We?ve been learning what?s been done in other areas, and now people are coming to us to find out what we know. This vital sharing of information and ideas really is the way forward.” Councillor Ken J Hall is chair of Middlesbrough Council?s crime and community safety scrutiny panel. He said: “We know prostitution is a problem in Middlesbrough, as it is in many places across the country. Our focus has been on publicly naming and shaming kerbcrawlers, which has been successful, and also helping women leave prostitution. But it?s also vital that we find out how other towns and cities are tackling the problem, and that?s why we?re very much looking forward to coming to Liverpool to see the work taking place.”
Managed zone
Following the Liverpool conference in July city council leader Mike Storey vowed to look at ways of removing the problems of prostitution and associated anti-social behaviour from residential areas. One of the possibilities suggested at the conference was a ?managed zone?. Since the conference experts have been investigating exactly how this could happen, and taking evidence from leading national and international figures. A report is expected to come before the city council?s executive board before Christmas. If a so-called managed area, or strategic enforcement area, did go ahead, it would be likely to be based in an industrial area near to the city centre. However, before any area could even potentially be identified criteria would have to be drawn up, and strict rules and regulations, as well as extensive consultation with businesses which could be affected. It would also be vital that the area could be successfully managed and policed, and this could include new lighting, CCTV and landscaping, as well as bases for sexual health and drug services. Visit www.liverpool.gov.uk
