Prostitution crackdown

DANDENONG police are vowing to stamp out a growing problem with prostitution that’s seen a 70-year-old woman propositioned outside her Scott Street home.
The woman’s daughter Patricia, who asked that her surname not be printed, is planning to start a resident action group to combat the problem.
“Something needs to be done to claim back our street and address these illegal activities before someone gets more seriously hurt and attacked,” she said.
“Street prostitution is indeed having a visible negative impact on the community.
“These issues are now dominating everyday life in the neighbourhood.”
Patricia said many women visiting homes on the street were being propositioned and “checked out” and working girls were approaching men and offering services.
She said street workers and their pimps were “casually sitting on fences”, being disrespectful to residents, removing letters from letter boxes and entering private properties to fill drink bottles.
“Fear and discomfort is being instilled – the street is not safe and walking the streets to go to work or shopping is no longer a safe and enjoyable experience,” she said.
Patricia said she and her mother had kept a log book with registration numbers of “kerb-crawlers” to assist police and urged others to do the same.
“We don’t want to be intimidated in our own street,” she said.
“The police have limited resources. Let’s work together and report these things.”
Greater Dandenong Local Area Commander Inspector Bruce Kitchen said street prostitution had been a problem in Dandenong for the past seven years.
In 2009, the Star reported that shopkeepers in Thomas Street, Dandenong, were calling on police to crack down on prostitution because it was hurting their business.
Insp Kitchen said the workers had gradually moved from business areas into residential streets.
He’s vowed to stamp it out.
“We won’t tolerate it in the street,” he said.
“It brings a bad image to Dandenong.
“We’ll be using our resources to ensure we curb the trend of prostitution.”
Insp Kitchen said police would use regular patrols to deter the practice and collect intelligence on those providing and using the service.
“It’s no offence for anyone to stand in the street,” he said.
“It’s best to target drivers.”
He said there would be covert and overt operations in coming weeks, and he’d assigned Sergeant Pat Green to monitor the operation and take complaints from the public.
Insp Kitchen urged residents to note vehicle registration numbers of people perusing the streets and a description of the driver.
“We’re building an intelligence base to figure out who is using this illegal service and those people will be prosecuted,” he said.
“Perhaps, they should think before they utilise these services.”
He suggested the workers and clients instead turn to legal brothels, and that police would refer women who needed assistance to welfare agencies.
Have you witnessed street prostitution in Dandenong? Would you like to be part of a resident action group? Call the Star on 5945 0666 or email casey.neill@starnewsgroup.com.au.