Hull crackdown on prostitution 'going well' police say
An operation to try to stop street prostitution in an area of Hull is "going well", police have said.
Humberside Police have been patrolling the Hessle Road area of the city for two weeks, targeting kerb crawlers.
The force said there had been a noticeable reduction in activity and in the number of complaints from residents about prostitution.
Men caught soliciting prostitutes have been offered a caution and a place on a "change course".
The course is designed to show kerb crawlers the impact that working as a prostitute has on women.
Support for women
Sgt Jim Clough said he had noticed a difference on Hessle Road since the operation began.
"The last couple of nights we've been working the streets have been really quiet.
"We haven't seen many street workers, we certainly haven't seen many users, and we haven't had any complaints from residents in the last few days either - so I think the operation has gone quite well," he said.
The force has also been directing sex workers to the Hull Lighthouse Project, which supports women who want to get out of prostitution.
Manager Lucy Paxton said sex workers needed help to get off the streets.
"Street prostitution is one of the most marginalised areas of prostitution and its not something that women go to voluntarily," she said.
"We need to support these women who are flung into these situations."