KEY POINTS:
A council committee has resolved to try and stamp out street prostitution in Manukau in a new initiative responding to repeated demands from nearby residents.
Manukau City Council's policy and activities committee resolved yesterday to make Manukau free of street prostitution, which has become concentrated in suburban town
centres surrounded by residential housing.
The main areas are Manurewa town centre and Hunter's Corner in Papatoetoe, with some sporadic reports of instances in Otara, Mangere and Old Papatoetoe.
A 2005 report by the prostitution law review committee estimated there were 423 sex workers in the Counties-Manukau police district, of which 150 were on the street.
Street prostitution creates an unsafe work environment , especially for young people, said councillor Dick Quax, who will lead a working party to tackle street prostitution.
"It provides the most likely entry point for young people into the industry due to its unregulated nature.
"Also, involvement of gangs and organised crime in street prostitution has become evident from the council's CCTV footage, media coverage and community feedback.
"Street prostitution also attracts offensive litter, disorder, drugs and intimidation. It makes certain areas unattractive to do business or to live.
"Our communities have been continuously demanding some action," Mr Quax said.
Prior to the Prostitution Reform Act 2003, prostitution was tolerated until it reached an inappropriate scale.
Communities had the power to either tolerate it or ask police to enforce the law.
Since the Act however, there is a feeling the behaviour has increased and become more irresponsible.
Communities feel powerless to control the behaviour under the current law. It is hoped that alcohol legislation, which allows bans to be brought in, could prove a useful way of dealing with street prostitution.
The council's working party is likely to consider various possible recommendations to government to enable communities to control the negative effects of street prostitution.
These recommendations could range from a request for a complete repeal of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003, or to amend the Act so that street prostitution is made illegal nationwide, or amend the Act so that communities and local territorial authorities can choose to bring in regulation banning street prostitution. Other non-legislative measures will also be considered.
The working party, comprising councillors, community board members, and representatives from the council and police, will submit its report to the council's policy and activities committee.
- NZPA