Two on kerb-crawling charges

From the archive, first published Tuesday 20th Mar 2007.

Two Bradford men are due to appear before magistrates on Friday charged with kerb-crawling.

The 22-year-old from Holme Wood and a 20-year-old from Drighlington are among 25 men arrested by police during a three-day operation targeting kerb-crawlers.

The arrests came after a crackdown in the Water Lane area of Leeds which started on Thursday. The men are all aged between 18 and 52.

Out of the 25 arrests, a 55-year-old man from Gildersome, was released on bail pending further inquiries. Two men received cautions and one was released without charge.

Superintendent Peter Nicholson said he believed the successful operation would stop other people trying to seek the services of sex workers.

"We will continue to crack down on the trade and bring to an end prostitution within the city," he said.

Drug workers from the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) will now focus on the Water Lane area encouraging sex workers using prostitution to fund a drug habit to get treatment.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Richard James from DIP said: "The only way to tackling the issue of prostitution and drugs is to conduct a multi-layed operation like this.

"It is important that now we have brought a number of suspected kerb crawlers before the courts, we continue our good work by helping prostitutes end their life of crime."