More arrests in red-light crackdown

THREE more men are today facing the shame of being caught kerb crawling or soliciting prostitutes as a zero tolerance police crackdown gains pace.

Suffolk police has now arrested 17 men in its bid to wipe street prostitution from the red-light district of Ipswich.

Two of the latest arrests were made on Tuesday night - including one of a man who was spotted while engaged in a sexual act with a prostitute.

The first, a 53-year-old from Stowmarket, was arrested on suspicion of kerb crawling at 9.30pm in Burlington Road. He has been bailed to return to Ipswich police station on April 25 to receive a caution.

The second, a 36-year-old from Ipswich, was arrested at 10.55pm in Sir Alf Ramsey Way. He was arrested on suspicion of outraging public decency after being spotted with a prostitute behind a building in Alderman Road.

An officer in plain clothes approached the pair and observed them involved in a sex act.

The man was then arrested and is due to return to Ipswich police station on April 26 to receive a caution for soliciting a woman for prostitution.

At 1am on Saturday a 31-year-old Ipswich man was arrested in Burlington Road on suspicion of kerb crawling. He is due to return to Ipswich police station on April 21 to receive a caution.

Suffolk police has intensified its efforts to remove the demand for street prostitution in the red-light district by putting the fear of certain arrest in kerb crawlers and men who approach women in the area on foot.

On their first arrest the men are handed a caution if they admit their actions, but if arrested again they will face the shame of appearing in court.

The Evening Star has pledged to name and shame any kerb crawlers who are hauled before the courts.

The police crackdown is a key part of the new five-year Ipswich Street Prostitution Strategy which also aims to provide increased support to sex workers and drug addicts to prevent them from working as prostitutes to feed their habits.

The strategy was launched last month following the killing of sex workers Annette Nicholls, 29, Paula Clennell, 24, Anneli Alderton, 24, Gemma Adams, 25, and Tania Nicol, 19. All had worked in the red-light district up until their deaths.

Steve Wright, 48, of London Road, Ipswich, has been charged with the murder of all five women. He is due to reappear at Ipswich Crown Court on May 1.

Do you think the crackdown will work? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk