| Councillor Dawson says he has been approached by a constituent in relation to this who is worried the problem is getting worse again.
The resident says the numbers of prostitutes operating are rising and she fears for her daughter’s safety.
Councillor Dawson said, “The police are doing a wonderful job despite not having the resources to be on site at all times.
“But the residents are complaining they cannot even wait on a bus or a taxi without being propositioned and in some cases they will not even let their children play in the street through fear that they will also be propositioned.
“My constituent has described some of the girls as looking very young, so fears for her own daughter’s safety whilst going to friends etc.
“This is no real way to live. The girls are now apparently appearing on the streets as early as 5 pm.
“A worrying thought is that it would appear young Polish girls are appearing on the street now as well.
“The residents know who the girls are and are finding an increasing amount of new faces appearing.
“My main point is this is a residential area with a vast array of people living in it, from families with kids to elderly.
“People are upset that this trade is being carried out just outside their homes.
“Whilst support must be given to the prostitutes to get them off the street, you have too wonder if they realise what they are doing to the residents. They need support too as this is a real problem for them.
“To assist the police, I have asked that the community wardens deploy the mobile patrol to the area and have asked the police what possibility there would be of a higher-profile campaign in the area.
“The other issue is do the clients realise what can happen to them, family break-ups, criminal records etc, or perhaps even worse? Whilst street prostitution is not considered a major problem in Dundee, it is for the residents of this area.”
There was a noticeable rise in prostitute activity in the Blackscroft and Broughty Ferry Road areas of Dundee a couple of years ago, leading to complaints from residents.
Uniformed and plainclothes police carried out regular high- visibility and covert patrols and a number of people were reported to the procurator fiscal, which helped contain the problem at the time. |
