Kerb-crawlers curbed as new anti-sleaze laws take effect

MORE than 30 men have been arrested in the Leith area and charged with trawling for prostitutes during the first year since new laws against kerb-crawling came into effect.

Residents say the legislation has made kerb-crawlers "very rare" in the area compared with a few years ago, when they were "bumper to bumper".

Sex workers have largely moved away from traditional haunts around Leith Links, although there are fears they have switched to Craigentinny and Castle Terrace, as well as other more isolated locations in Edinburgh.

Officers picked up 14 alleged kerb-crawlers in the first ten weeks since the laws came into force last October, and just 19 have been picked up since January. During the same period, police charged 19 women with soliciting offences in Leith.

But support workers say making kerb-crawling illegal – men risk a criminal record and £1000 fine – has seen the trade becoming more dangerous as prostitutes are forced "underground".

Scotpep – the Scottish Prostitutes Education Project – says that some women are now handing out mobile numbers to potential clients in order to set up illicit meetings. The Newhaven-based group believes this new tactic has left prostitutes more vulnerable as they are meeting men in more isolated spots.

Inspector Steven Paul, from Leith police station, said: "The laws have had a significant impact on kerb-crawling, although it remains an issue we are committed to tackling. We've been working with our partner agencies to try and look after the women still involved in prostitution and get them away from that business while responding to the concerns of members of the public.

"The men charged with the offence were arrested in a combination of routine patrols, special operations and responding to calls from the public. None have been picked up twice, so we seem to be driving the message home for them to stay away."

Police chiefs have worked to develop a relationship with Leith residents over the issue and now receive only a handful of complaints about vice girls every month.

Rob Kirkwood, spokesman for the Leith Links Residents Association, said: "The new law has had an amazing impact on the community. It is now very rare to see a kerb-crawler around Leith Links. We still get the odd girl coming back to the area, usually around the area of a local pub, but that doesn't happen often now.

"There were a couple of Eastern European girls coming down who didn't know about the law and they soon moved on.

"A few years ago, Leith Links could feel like Blackpool promenade, with cars bumper to bumper at night. Now you could play football in the middle of the street and rarely have to stop for a passing car.

"It's made a big difference to women in the area, who can now go out past 8pm or wait for a bus without some kerb-crawler thinking they were on the game."

In September, residents in Craigentinny complained about an increase in sex workers in the area, who have propositioned residents. Complaints centred on a phone box at the end of Craigentinny Avenue North, thought to be used by women seen getting in and out of cars.