By Casey Neill
Street sex workers could finally be a problem of the past for the Dandenong CBD.
Six months ago, on 1 August, the area bordered by Princes Highway and Pickett, Walker, Clow and Hemmings streets became a declared area under the Sex Work Act.
This allowed police to ban any sex worker from the area and impose fines.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police identified in 2013-2014 that street sex work was a concern in the area.
“Local police put a significant focus on the issue at that time and reduced it dramatically,” she said.
“The addition of the declared area meant that police were equipped with legislation to respond more effectively if they were to see signs of activity re-emerging.
“Due to all of this work, police have not had to enforce since the declared area was defined.”
Star News Group covered the issue extensively in 2013, starting with a report in February that a 70-year-old woman was propositioned outside her Scott Street home.
Her daughter said the problem was instilling “fear and discomfort” among residents and visitors.
In July that year, Star reported that gutter crawlers propositioned a 19-year-old girl twice in seven minutes as she waited for a bus in Scott Street.
Police made one arrest and interviewed three suspects in a prostitution blitz in Dandenong’s CBD later that month, and more stings and court appearances followed throughout the year.
Sergeant Pat Green at the time said police would take a zero tolerance approach until the behaviour was gone.
“The police are working with other government agencies to look at the problem from a different angle, not only from enforcement,” he said.
“It’s just about putting our heads together and working out what capability each organisation has and how they can complement the others.”
