Home >> Customer care >> News from Nottingham City Homes >> News feed >> Prostitution taskforce catches 1000th man for kerb crawling (NCC and Notts Police release)

Prostitution taskforce catches 1000th man for kerb crawling (NCC and Notts Police release)

Community Protection's On Street Prostitution team has caught its 1000th man for offences relating to purchasing, or attempting to purchase sexual acts on the streets of Nottingham.

The 1000th man was caught and charged on the 17th June 2010. He will appear at Nottingham Magistrates Court on the 24th August 2010.

This specialist team was formed on 1st of June 2004 and is funded by Nottingham City Council in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police.

Of the 1000 men caught, over 560 have attended a Change Course, of which only nine of these men are known to have reoffended. Over the same period 840 letters have been issued to the owners of vehicles seen cruising in the area affected by street prostitution.

In the last 6 years, the team has also dealt with nearly 350 different women involved in street prostitution and also made over 1000 arrests or cautions of these women.

On 1st April this year, new legislation was brought in to amend much of the law relating to prostitution, including a new penalty at court on conviction for loitering or soliciting for prostitution.

Previously, the only option open to magistrates was a fine, but now they can use an Engagement and Support Order instead. This order allows for a minimum of three meetings with a suitable support worker to address the reasons for why a woman is engaging in prostitution, and can form the first step in exiting this lifestyle altogether.

Sergeant Neil Radford, Community Protection, Nottingham City Council said:

Our priority remains with protecting our communities and we always look for new ways to do this. We have just obtained our first Engagement and Support Order and have two more currently being processed.

I think everyone would accept that if a woman is involved in prostitution to feed a drug addiction, then imposing a fine on her will only add to her burdens. The new orders are designed to help these women exit this lifestyle altogether.

We understand that the complex issues involved will not change overnight or that everything can be addressed in three meetings, but this is intended as the first step in the long process of rehabilitation. As such, it is a huge step forward on previous penalties and we fully intend to use these orders wherever they are appropriate.

(Thursday 15 July 09:00:00 GMT)

Read all the latest news from Nottingham City Homes