| The move is part of the setting-up of a new public protection unit, whose remit is to look after the most vulnerable members of society and deal with those who pose the greatest risk to communities.
The ongoing “scoping” exercise has already established there are almost 100 women who have at some time been engaged in selling themselves on the streets of Dundee.
Detective Chief Inspector Willie Semple said, “Intelligence has shown us that the vast majority, if not all, of those prostituting themselves on the streets are local girls who have heroin habits.
“We are working closely with the community safety partnership in respect of on-street prostitution.”
“The police role is enforcement, but at the same time there is a recognition that these are vulnerable people and we are keen to get them help through schemes such as arrest referral.
“Of course that is a two way-street and the girls have got to want to get help or treatment. What we want to do is make sure we provide that opportunity.”
Recent months have seen the staging of Operation Kerb, which focused on streets in the Maryfield police area, known to be the local “red light district”.
It took advantage of new legislation targeting prostitutes’ clients, and a 38-year-old man arrested in Peep O’ Day Lane became the first person in Tayside to be charged with soliciting.
“Part of our strategy will be to target the market for on-street prostitution,” continued DCI Semple. “Males who are using prostitutes should be in no doubt that it is an offence.
“It is important to note that prostitution brings people from all walks of life into certain parts of Dundee.
“It is also an anti-social behaviour issue in areas where it is happening. It is something we receive complaints about.”
The detective said that, although the number of on-street prostitutes in Dundee is “in the mid-90s,” not all of them are active at any one time.
“It goes in cycles, because they can be either involved in legitimate work or other forms of criminal activity,” continued DCI Semple. “They may have partners who have heroin habits.
“I would stress there aren’t 90 girls out there — on any one night it won’t be more than about half-a-dozen on the streets.”
Intelligence has indicated that most local prostitutes are in their mid- 20s, with the youngest in their late teens and the oldest over 40.
Police are confident the kerbside prostitution scene locally doesn’t involve under-age girls, and there is no evidence of foreigners selling their bodies on the streets.
Marked differences have been identified in both the clientele and workers involved in brothel prostitution, but both issues will be dealt with under the umbrella of the public protection unit. |
