Street-based sex workers on the move
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Fewer street-based sex workers are working in residential areas north of the central city than a year ago.
Since late last year, Christchurch City Council has been working actively with the community and agencies, including the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective and the Police, to encourage street-based sex workers to move away from residential areas.
Recent monitoring shows only one or two sex workers are regularly operating north of Bealey Ave.
The number of street-based sex workers in the wider Manchester Street area has also dropped, from 70-plus a decade ago to between seven and 13 today.
A report outlining the result of those efforts, and the next steps, will be considered by the Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board next week.
Council General Manager Citizens and Community Mary Richardson says sex workers operating outside people’s homes and businesses is a long-standing issue and there are no quick or easy solutions.
“Sex work is legal and the Council has limited powers to regulate it. Rather than resorting to a bylaw, which could not necessarily be enforced, we have been working with agencies and the community to find other ways of tacking the issues,’’ Ms Richardson says.
“Our aim has been to encourage sex workers and their clients to move away from the area north of Bealey Avenue, curb anti-social behaviour, address local concerns, and improve the safety and well-being of the sex workers.”
As part of that work, the Council plans to install six large signs in the area north of Bealey Avenue to alert people that surveillance cameras are operating. These should be in place by May.
“We have also placed an an extra rubbish bin on the Manchester Street/Aberdeen Street corner, stepped up street cleaning in the area, and plan to install a needle disposal unit.’’ Ms Richardson says.
“We will be talking with local residents again in late April to find out if these actions are making a difference and to ask if they have any further suggestions.’’
