The 'complex' problem of tackling 'red light' area as residents urged 'don't take matters into own hands'

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


A community has been urged not to take matters into its own hands following a protest against prostitution.

The protest was staged on the corner of Yarm Road and Spring Road in Oxbridge, Stockton on Saturday, September 14, with participants carrying placards saying "prostitution-free zone" and "no to sex workers on our streets".

They complained about being approached for "business", threatened, racially abused and assaulted, as well as finding needles and used condoms, and seeing people they believed to be "pimps" picking up and dropping off sex workers. Ropner ward councillor Shakeel Hussain told residents: "This thing has gone on for far too long. The majority of us just want to live happily in safety."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has heard of residents' frustrations, with some left fearful and angry saying the area was becoming a "no-go zone for our families". Some suggested the activity should be moved to a safer, monitored commercial area or legalised.

Representatives from Stockton Council and Cleveland Police have pointed to the complexity of an issue with "no easy solution", and to arrests, referrals and intelligence-gathering, along with efforts to respond to community concerns while safeguarding women described as vulnerable victims of exploitation, addiction, poverty and homelessness.

The picture seemed optimistic at a Safer Stockton Partnership meeting in July. "We're seeing the green shoots of a more resilient community emerging," said Stockton Council's head of community safety Sharon Cooney.

That meeting heard of progress with Operation Nightfall, gathering intelligence about sex work in Stockton, and Project Harmony, launched to help reduce crime and rejuvenate Oxbridge and Parkfield with the help of the police, council, fire brigade and other agencies. Ms Cooney said a new report, to be discussed in October, was well researched with residents, businesses, sex workers, councillors and faith groups.

Stockton Council's Municipal building and Civic Centre
Stockton Council's Municipal building and Civic Centre -Credit:Gazette

She said: "There is much improved trust from the sex workers with the local police. There's some very good news there around the way the police have engaged with them, looked after them and made them feel safer.

"Residents actually feel a bit more confident that they're being listened to, but are very very nervous around whether we will deliver in terms of a partnership on some of their concerns, on what the impact sex work in a residential area has on their quality of life.

"We will be taking that report and seeing what sort of plan we can put in place to best deal with the issues. There are some key recommendations and it's something we all realise and understand will take several partners, from the local authority, police etc to come together with the residents and listen to their voice better.

"I'm really pleased that the residents, businesses and sex workers have got a real voice in this report in seeing what they want to happen. It's a really excellent piece of work and I'm quite confident that we'll be able to make some real changes for the ward and actually improve the quality of life in that location."

She added: "The residents do have their concerns that they're going to be left too soon. I think that's something we're going to have to guard against."

Scepticism

Weeks later, the two ward councillors at the Yarm Road protest expressed scepticism. Cllr Sufi Mubeen said: "Clearly it's not working properly. The numbers have increased. This is the worst time in the last 17 years."

He said people were scared to go out and would not let children play out alone: "They're being stopped and harassed by sex workers. People are afraid to even report it to the police. They don't believe the authorities can do anything.

"We know that sex workers are victims. We're looking for a safe exit for them as well, somewhere police or the authorities can monitor them. We know it can be dangerous for them. We're not against them, we want them to be safe. We all need to come together."

Councillors Shakeel Hussain (left) and Sufi Mubeen (right)
Councillors Shakeel Hussain (left) and Sufi Mubeen (right) -Credit:Gareth Lightfoot / Teesside Live

Cllr Hussain said: "It's fine and dandy sitting around the table having meetings. We haven't seen any action. We've been working with the council quite closely. There's a lot of meetings, a lot of paperwork but not a lot actually happening on the ground."

He said there were worries the trade was attracting sexual predators and turning the area into a hotspot: "Nobody feels safe to go out. We're actually getting more sex workers coming to the area now than before, and the residents are sick and tired of it. There are sex workers out when people are taking their children to school in the morning and bringing them home.

"Residents are being followed home, harassed by sex workers. It's got to the point where residents have literally had enough. It's about time the council and the authorities got their act together and did something about it. It's becoming a red light district and people don't want sex workers on their doorstep."

A protest against sex work took place on Yarm road in Stockton on Saturday, with participants including Cllrs Sufi Mubeen (far left) and Shakeel Hussain (far right)
A protest against sex work took place on Yarm road in Stockton on Saturday, with participants including Cllrs Sufi Mubeen (far left) and Shakeel Hussain (far right)

Resident Thomas Millen, 58, said: "A lot of people I've talked to have been propositioned by prostitutes on the way to work or into Stockton. Neighbours have gone out and found used needles and condoms. It's scary. People don't want to leave their houses. You go home, close your windows, turn your telly on and just hope nothing happens."

Shakeel Noor, chair of the Bowesfield Residents' Association, said: "We understand that the working girls are vulnerable and also victims of crime. But the residents and their children don't feel safe when they come home. The residents are not happy with them working here. It's day and night. There's people coming from out of the area.

"There's a safeguarding issue for children. It's been going on for a long time and this was a sensible approach to do a peaceful protest. There are other issues in the area but at the minute this is the top issue." He suggested moving the trade to a commercial area with more cameras in the town centre near the police station, where he said residents would not be affected.

A protest against sex work took place on Yarm Road, in Stockton
A protest against sex work took place on Yarm Road, in Stockton

The gathering attracted the attention of one female passer-by, who questioned the protesters: "What do you think this is going to do?" She suggested more unity, saying: "I'm part of a church in Stockton and we see the girls come in. We sit and we talk to them. It's their time to be able to feel loved and to be free.

"But they are very troubled. A lot of the girls are doing it to get the next fix, unfortunately. A lot of the girls just want to be accepted by people. Truthfully it should be legalised and it should be in a safe area, in a commercial area."

Cllr Norma Stephenson
Cllr Norma Stephenson -Credit:Katie Lunn/Teesside Live

Cllr Norma Stephenson, Stockton Council's cabinet member for access, communities and community safety, said: "This is a very complex situation and over the past year, we have been working closely with our community, partner agencies such as Cleveland Police, and local councillors to build a long-term solution.

"It's important to consider that women who are sex working are often extremely vulnerable and victims of wider exploitation - and we owe them an equal duty of care. Many are involved in sex work due to complex issues such as addiction, poverty, and homelessness.

"Ultimately, there is no quick solution to these issues, but an action plan is underway through the multi-agency project, 'Project Harmony' – and the intelligence gathered from across the partners involved provides a strong evidence base, compared to previously when these issues were not being reported. This complex work continues, balanced alongside ongoing engagement with the local community including the established multi-agency monthly 'drop in' sessions at the local Family Hub."

Reports to police 'taken extremely seriously'

Chief Inspector Dan Heron from the Stockton Neighbourhood Policing Team said police had been working with the council and charity A Way Out for months, responding to the community's concerns: "Officers and council colleagues patrol the area and engage with women who sex work to try to safeguard the vulnerable women involved and offer them appropriate support, whilst also gathering intelligence about perpetrators.

"Enforcement action is carried out wherever necessary and Operation Nightfall has so far seen 12 arrests made, four referrals to support services, 13 stop checks and 43 intelligence logs submitted. Under the overarching umbrella of Operation Harmony, we are working hard with the local authority and many other partners to improve the Ropner ward for all living and working there, as we continue to listen to the concerns of the local community and do whatever we can as a partnership to try to address the situation.

"We continue to encourage people to report issues to us so that we can work together to find a realistic solution. All of these calls are taken extremely seriously.

"Simply moving individuals on to another area will not resolve the matter and we encourage local residents and members of the public to engage with police and partners as we tackle these issues. We'd urge the community not to take matters into its own hands."

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