C
Contrarian
Battle to curb kerb crawlers
Natasha Boddy, The West Australian
May 31, 2013, 6:40 am
Not guilty plea: Calogero Ziino.
City of Vincent mayor Alannah MacTiernan says it is unacceptable that streets are being turned into brothels and believes kerb crawlers looking for sex should be named and shamed to deter others.
Her comments came as police said they had received 91 complaints about street prostitution since the start of the year. Charges against three men and two women were listed in Perth Magistrate's Court yesterday.
Ms MacTiernan said street prostitution in Highgate was creating a horrible environment.
"Particularly so for women, they are constantly accosted by kerb crawlers," she said. "If you live in that area, you are presumed to be a prostitute selling your wares so that alone creates a really unpleasant living environment," she said.
"We are really trying to stamp this out. It is not acceptable to turn these streets into mobile brothels because it has massive consequences. If they need to do this stuff, go down to the local brothel."
Her comments came as two men were fined yesterday for seeking prostitutes in Highgate this year.
Raffaele Dichiera, who did not appear in court yesterday, entered an endorsed plea of guilty to the charge and was fined $750.
The court was told he approached a woman on a busy street in front of a block of units and offered to pay for sexual acts.
Dharmesh Batavia, 43, also pleaded guilty to seeking a prostitute in Highgate in April. He was fined $500 and granted a spent conviction.
A third man, Calogero Ziino, pleaded not guilty to a charge of seeking a prostitute in a public place in May. Mr Ziino, who will face court again in July, allegedly tried to proposition an undercover female police officer.
Two women - Teena Louise Cotter and Alison Clare Taylor - were due to appear in court yesterday on charges of seeking a client in a public place.
Ms Cotter is expected to reappear in court in July and Ms Taylor, who did not appear, was summoned to attend court on July 11.
Ms MacTiernan said the cases were a warning to the public that people were being penalised over street prostitution.
"Our best bet is to deal with the demand," she said. "We think if we can discourage the men from coming to the area by the knowledge that men are getting caught, they are convicted and they are getting named," she said.
Nine men are due to face court next month charged with seeking a prostitute in a public place.
Natasha Boddy, The West Australian
May 31, 2013, 6:40 am
Not guilty plea: Calogero Ziino.
City of Vincent mayor Alannah MacTiernan says it is unacceptable that streets are being turned into brothels and believes kerb crawlers looking for sex should be named and shamed to deter others.
Her comments came as police said they had received 91 complaints about street prostitution since the start of the year. Charges against three men and two women were listed in Perth Magistrate's Court yesterday.
Ms MacTiernan said street prostitution in Highgate was creating a horrible environment.
"Particularly so for women, they are constantly accosted by kerb crawlers," she said. "If you live in that area, you are presumed to be a prostitute selling your wares so that alone creates a really unpleasant living environment," she said.
"We are really trying to stamp this out. It is not acceptable to turn these streets into mobile brothels because it has massive consequences. If they need to do this stuff, go down to the local brothel."
Her comments came as two men were fined yesterday for seeking prostitutes in Highgate this year.
Raffaele Dichiera, who did not appear in court yesterday, entered an endorsed plea of guilty to the charge and was fined $750.
The court was told he approached a woman on a busy street in front of a block of units and offered to pay for sexual acts.
Dharmesh Batavia, 43, also pleaded guilty to seeking a prostitute in Highgate in April. He was fined $500 and granted a spent conviction.
A third man, Calogero Ziino, pleaded not guilty to a charge of seeking a prostitute in a public place in May. Mr Ziino, who will face court again in July, allegedly tried to proposition an undercover female police officer.
Two women - Teena Louise Cotter and Alison Clare Taylor - were due to appear in court yesterday on charges of seeking a client in a public place.
Ms Cotter is expected to reappear in court in July and Ms Taylor, who did not appear, was summoned to attend court on July 11.
Ms MacTiernan said the cases were a warning to the public that people were being penalised over street prostitution.
"Our best bet is to deal with the demand," she said. "We think if we can discourage the men from coming to the area by the knowledge that men are getting caught, they are convicted and they are getting named," she said.
Nine men are due to face court next month charged with seeking a prostitute in a public place.
