Nine warnings issued in blitz on Wolverhampton prostitutes
Nine prostitutes have been warned they face prosecution if they are found operating as sex workers in Wolverhampton over the next three months, it was revealed today.
Nine warnings have been issued and two arrests made over the last two months in a crackdown on prostitution following complaints that they are blighting All Saints and Ettingshall.
Roads in particular that have been hit are Steelhouse Lane, Kent Road, Major Street and Dixon Street.
A street sex worker was arrested in All Saints for Breach of a previous court order for loitering and assaulting a police officer, and another was arrested for loitering in All Saints.
Sgt Jon Yeomans, from the Ettingshall neighbourhood policing team, said: "The team will patrol the recognised vice area of Wolverhampton to deter street prostitution.
"Identified street sex workers will be subject to interventions including warnings, cautions, arrest, charge and diversion.
"Anyone found soliciting will be arrested."
Residents have raised the issue with officers as part of their regular Police And Communities Together meetings.
Police say prostitution had traditionally been a problem for many years and that the majority of the women officers encounter are involved in selling sex to fund a drug addiction. The street warnings act as supporting evidence in the event that the women are found loitering anywhere in England and Wales over the next three months.
New legislation means those convicted of kerb crawling face losing their driving licence.
Ettingshall ward councillor Bishan Dass said: "Everybody is concerned about this, as All Saints in particular is a hotspot for this sort of activity.
"It has been going on for many years and police are doing everything they can after residents have raised their fears about it.
"The problem is that once the police take action in one area these people just move on into a different place, even outside of the city into places like Walsall.
"It is also frustrating to see prostitutes and kerb crawlers get taken to court and then get let off with light fines.
"There have been a number of lengthy meetings with police and issues have been raised and I am glad to see something has been done."
It comes after police launched action against prostitution in other parts of the Black Country.
