Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info. A community has been urged not to take matters into its own hands following a protest against prostitution.
The protest was staged on the corner of Yarm Road and Spring Road in Oxbridge, Stockton on Saturday, September 14, with participants carrying placards saying "prostitution-free zone" and "no to sex workers on our streets". They complained about being approached for "business", threatened, racially abused and assaulted, as well as finding needles and used condoms, and seeing people they believed to be "pimps" picking up and dropping off sex workers.
Ropner ward councillor Shakeel Hussain told residents: "This thing has gone on for far too long. The majority of us just want to live happily in safety. The Local Democracy Reporting Service has heard of residents' frustrations, with some left fearful and angry saying the area was becoming a "no-go zone for our families". Some suggested the activity should be moved to a safer, monitored commercial area or legalised.
Representatives from Stockton Council and Cleveland Police have pointed to the complexity of an issue with "no easy solution", and to arrests, referrals and intelligence-gathering, along with efforts to respond to community concerns while safeguarding women described as vulnerable victims of exploitation, addiction, poverty and homelessness. The picture seemed optimistic at a Safer Stockton Partnership meeting in July.
That meeting heard of progress with Operation Nightfall, gathering intelligence about sex work in Stockton, and Project Harmony, launched to help reduce crime and rejuvenate Oxbridge and Parkfield with the help of the police, council, fire brigade and other agencies. Ms Cooney said a new report, to be discussed in October, was well researched with residents, businesses, sex workers, councillors and faith groups.
