Five arrests in Burnley vice crackdown (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Five arrests in Burnley vice crackdown

9:30am Thursday 29th July 2010 in News By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

POLICE arrested five people in a crackdown on prostitution in Burnley.

Officers targeted the Daneshouse, Stoneyholme and Bank Hall areas of town.

Two women were arrested for prostitution and two men for kerb crawling, while a third man has been charged with a public order offence after allegedly exposing himself in the street.

Sgt Carole Langhorne said police would continue to target the problem which has been plaguing the residential area.

“We take this issue very seriously and reassure residents that it is something we are targeting,” she said.

The operation had included plain clothes offices patrolling the streets.

As a result of the operation on July 16:

• A 44-year-old woman was cautioned for prostitution
• A 28-year-old woman has been released bail after being arrested on suspicion of prostitution
• A 26-year-old man has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of kerb crawling
• A 49-year-old man was released without further action after being arrested on suspicion of kerb crawling
• Ashley Love, 34, of Castle Street, was charged with a public order offence after allegedly stripping naked in front of officers on the street.

Sgt Langhorne said police were working with the council and NHS East Lancashire to try to get prostitutes into the Triangle Project once they had been dealt with.

“As well as enforcement we have to try and help the girls,” she said.

“We can get engagement orders through the court which force them to go to the project, where they can get treatment for drugs or alcohol issues.

“This is a longer term solution to getting people off the streets.”