Bristol kerb crawlers to go on re-education course

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Sunday, December 14, 2008
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This is Bristol

Men caught kerb-crawling in Bristol are being invited to go on an educational course aimed at changing their views of prostitution.

The scheme, called Change Course, looks at the effects a criminal conviction has on men's families, how kerb-crawling affects communities.

But the main focus is on how their behaviour affects girls working as prostitutes, who are often attacked.

Men caught kerb-crawling can face court, but this new initiative allows first time offenders a radical new alternative.

Change Course is run by a clinical psychologist. In return for attending the workshop, offenders escape being named and shamed or prosecuted.

Participants pay to attend the course and the profits that this generates will go towards helping communities affected by the nuisance they cause. Local people can decide how this money is spent.

Police spokeswoman PC Tina Newman said: "This initiative follows other successful pilots across the country. Fifty-three men have completed the course locally and only one has reoffended.

Brian McCutcheon, spokesman for the Safer Bristol Partnership said: "Change Course is changing attitudes of kerb-crawlers. This is being combined with regular, targeted police activity and effective exit strategies provided for sex workers.

"The result is a significant reduction in the number of sex workers on Bristol streets."

A special International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers takes place next Wednesday.

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23 Comments

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by Patrick, Bristol

    Tuesday, December 16 2008, 1:14PM

    “One fact. Very few of the Working Girls in Bristol, and certainly none that Iknow personally, have pimps behind them. It happens but it is the exception rather than the rule at least in my experience here in Bristol.”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by Rett ribution, Bristol

    Tuesday, December 16 2008, 9:37AM

    “Justin. so a woman who sells her self for sex is a tramp but a man who does the same is a gigolo or escort. Same horse different jocky. Why the double standards? perhaps you could enlighten me

    I am sick of men labelling women as sluts or worse for having multiple partners when men do EXACTLY the same thing and call themselves studs etc. These woman are not tramps they are victims of various crimes. It's bad enough they get violated by the pimps and seedy men that USE them they shouldn't have to put up with it from the general public”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by justin, Bristol

    Tuesday, December 16 2008, 12:42AM

    “I think an Education Course is a good idea. Many of these tramps have a drug problem and you're just prolonging the life on the street for them.”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by daren, bristol

    Monday, December 15 2008, 10:50PM

    “i alway read everything you have to say dont you know lol”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by Shelly, Bristol

    Monday, December 15 2008, 9:22PM

    “obviously 'butter' was a deliberate error. I was just curious to know if these comments were actually read by anyone...!
    ;-)”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by daren, bristol

    Monday, December 15 2008, 8:29PM

    “lol butter hehehe”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by daren, bristol

    Monday, December 15 2008, 8:27PM

    “ark at she lol shelly chugging lol chooooooo choooooooooo alll aboard lmao”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by Shelly, Bristol

    Monday, December 15 2008, 6:22PM

    “Mary.
    Lots of these girls are picked out by pimps specifically because they are vulnerable. Thee bottom feeders are the pimps who target care homes and runaways who think these men love them. It isn't about making a quick buck there are many mind games played before girls are sent out on the streets. First there is the grooming and probably the introduction to drugs then come the violence and the threats and when these girls (some who are in their early teens and lower) feel so worthless and drug addled thanks to these pimps they have no option but to do as they are told the prostitution starts. I know this because I have worked with them. These men that use postitutes are no butter than the scum that pimp them”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by Patrick, Bristol

    Monday, December 15 2008, 5:47PM

    “Get real people! None of the working girls, and I have the privilege of knowing many as friends NOT as aclient, want to do this! Life has served many of them a tragic hand and for one reason, or another they have ended up with an addiction. I just hope that none of the Holy Joes who are so self opinionated and self righteous have to cope with an addiction problem because I doubt if they would have the strength, or resolve to be able to do so!”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by Mary, bristol

    Monday, December 15 2008, 5:33PM

    “Shelly you are going way OTT these are the bottom of the class. One up from bottom feeders claiming they are female would be hard, most arrive because of drugs and end up dead, it is not men that did that, they did.”

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