Case study - Resident

This page contains an interview with a resident of the All Saints area named as 'Christine'.

It is one of two case studies in this section.

“They don’t care who they approach” -Living in the red light district

Christine has been a resident of the All Saints area for more than 30 years. In that time the sight of kerb-crawlers trawling the streets for prostitutes has been a constant part of everyday life.

The fact she lives in an area blighted by the street sex trade is something she always has to keep at the back of her mind to protect herself and her family.

Christine says kerb-crawlers can be seen day and night and they don’t care who they approach - a person’s age, whether they are carrying bags of shopping or the time of day does nothing to deter them.

Visitors to her home have to be warned in advance, especially if it’s pay day when the area can be like “Piccadilly Circus”, says the 45-year-old.

“I live in a street where the kerb-crawlers drive around and the girls walk up and down the street. The cars pull up, they chat for a minute, then they go. You later see them drop them off.

“It’s day and night, 24-7 - even holidays like Boxing Day are the same.

“They come around our area for one thing and they don’t care who they ask - it could be a young girl or an old lady.

“It’s not very pleasant, especially if you are just walking down the street and a car stops and asks for business. You can’t go outside without thinking you might be stopped.

“Even children have been approached. Some residents don’t like their children playing out. As a parent you’ve got to be aware. You’re always thinking about it at the back of your mind.”

However, the sight of kerb-crawlers and prostitutes on the streets is not the only way in which residents’ lives are affected by the street sex trade in All Saints. Christine’s partner found a prostitute with a client in their own garden.

“They don’t care if people are watching them do their business,” she says.

Christine also witnessed the violence that is part of the trade first-hand when a pimp beat a prostitute in front of her because the girl hadn’t made enough money.

Furthermore, residents are continually reminded about the drug-use involved as finding needles “littered around” is not uncommon.

People may ask why she doesn’t move but Christine says All Saints is a nice area apart from the prostitution and she feels that people moving out would not do anything to help the situation.

And she feels positive that action can be taken to rid the area of kerb-crawlers. She says she has already seen the effects of work under way to tackle the issue.

“It’s getting better now with this Prostitution Task Group campaign and the council and other organisations being bold and brave.

“We need to tell kerb-crawlers that if they come into our area they could be banned from driving, fined and named and shamed.

“It’s about getting street sex off our streets and also helping the girls.

“In this area we are all blighted by prostitution and kerb-crawling. Every household is affected. The work shows residents that something is being done.”

Notes

Christine is not the resident’s real name.

Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to anonymously report crime.