News from Sheffield Labour

Jacqui Smith visits Sheffield and backs the Police’s tough line on prostitution

The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith MP, visited Sheffield today and met with Paul Blomfield, Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Sheffield Central. The Home Secretary and Paul Blomfield visited Edward Street flats in Sheffield city centre to find out from local residents, city centre Ambassadors and the Police about actions that have been taken to successfully reduce prostitution in the area.

The Edward Street area has previously suffered badly from problems caused by prostitution, but in recent years the problems have significantly reduced. This has been due to extensive redevelopment of the area and actions by South Yorkshire Police who have worked to reduce demand for prostitution by taking a tough line on kerb crawlers.

Paul Blomfield said:

“Prostitution can blight communities and no one should be forced to live in an environment with crime on their doorstep. The big reduction in prostitution in the Edward Street area shows that prostitution should never be tolerated because it can be successfully tackled.

“The work the Police have done around Edward Street to tackle kerb crawling has had a real impact and massively improved the quality of life for the residents living here. I support Jacqui Smith’s tough line on kerb crawling and the introduction of a new criminal offence making it illegal to pay for sex with prostitutes who are controlled by pimps.”

“I’m really pleased that the Home Secretary has been able to come and meet local residents and listen to their experiences of the problems caused by prostitution.”

Paul added:

“The reduction in prostitution around Edward St shows that no area in our city should ever be written off by allowing prostitution to take place there. This would ghettoise areas, reduce people’s quality of life and force residents to be confronted everyday by the reality of prostitution. No-one should have to put up with that.”

Other news from Sheffield Labour

• Station Bridge roundtable with Transport Ministers announced - 8 February 2012
• Paul Blomfield MP slams Tory "ambush" of Government Fair Access Director - 8 February 2012
• Angela Smith MP highlights economic problems faced by Barnsley - 7 February 2012