Ipswich Borough Council, Suffolk Constabulary, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk and Suffolk County Council have restated their commitment to the closest possible working with the aim of removing street prostitution completely from Ipswich as well acting strongly together to deter acts of violence against women in the town.
Work will be stepped up to give women the help they need to exit from street prostitution and to deter men from propositioning women on the street.
The partners meet regularly with an agenda of co-ordinating work to reduce these harms and this has resulted in the successes, such as those that will be delivered from the extra money from the Safer Streets Fund. This will help deliver additional multi-agency work in an area of Ipswich which will improve CCTV coverage better public engagement and reporting of incidents as well as improving general household and business security and crime prevention.
The partners have also committed to working beyond programmes and co-ordinate other work towards these aims.
Cllr Alasdair Ross, Portfolio Holder for Community Protection at Ipswich Borough Council says:
“Joint working is what is needed to get rid of street prostitution in Ipswich; that’s how we dealt with this scourge after the terrible events fifteen years ago. We need to work across all these partners - and that also includes the NHS and the voluntary sector - with joint plans, targets and timetables. That did not just work well in Ipswich but it’s how the social problem has been tackled well in other places. Street prostitution is inherently dangerous for the women working and we need to act together urgently to end this as soon as possible.“
Supt Jane Topping, Suffolk Constabulary says:
‘Suffolk Constabulary have worked with support services and the majority of the women engaged in street sex work have been supported and are no longer on the streets. Police are conducting enforcement activity in the area aimed at those who have not taken the support offered and the males who attend the area and use sex workers.’
Tim Passmore, Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk says:
“Our grant awards will continue to support several voluntary sector organisations that work in this area and I know there will be extra visible policing in this area involving the new Kestrel Team who specialise in tackling neighbourhood crimes such as drug supply, violence and anti-social behaviour.
“Ultimately it is the power of collaboration across all agencies that will bring success in tackling the underlying social and economic difficulties and we will do everything possible to prevent these crimes, keep everyone safe and support the victims.”
Cllr Andrew Reid, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Public Health, Public Protection and Communities, says:
“All agencies in Suffolk, through the Safer Stronger Communities Board, are united in their approach to tackling violence against women and girls and are currently refreshing the countywide strategy which includes a specific response to prostitution alongside other crime types including domestic abuse and sexual violence.
“This is a complex issue that requires a multi-agency response which includes prevention, community engagement, drug and alcohol support and Police enforcement.
“Additionally Suffolk Public Health team are working closely with commissioners across the Eastern region to develop a co-ordinated approach to scope and understand the scale, range and distribution of the sex worker population.”
