VICE GIRLS WORK LONGER WHEN DRUGS ARE SCARCE

PROSTITUTES are spending longer hours working the streets in order to feed
their drug habits as crack cocaine prices increase in Northampton.

A number of known drug dealers have been arrested by police in a series of
raids as part of the crimefighting Caspar project, which has been
introduced in Spring Boroughs and Semilong.

But the arrests have had the knock-on effect of causing the price of crack
cocaine to rise as it becomes increasingly scarce.

Tony Clarke, the MP for Northampton South, told the Chronicle & Echo that
prostitutes were now being forced to spend longer on the streets to scrape
together enough money for their daily fix.

Mr Clarke, who spent Tuesday night on patrol with Northamptonshire Police's
emergency response team, said: "There is clear evidence of the vice trade
in Spring Boroughs.

"The night we were out there was a constant stream of six or seven girls
walking the streets with several more presumably in transit or elsewhere.

"Those girls are working tricks to feed their drug habit. Whilst they are
selling their bodies their pimps are dealing in drugs.

"It is worrying. With the amount of drugs available decreasing the girls
are having to spend longer on the streets.

"Whereas you might expect them to be working in the normal leisure zone of
8pm to 2am they can often still be seen wandering the streets at five or
six in the morning to try to get the money they need."

As well as spending time out on patrol, Mr Clarke visited the custody
suites at both Weston Favell and Campbell Square police stations, the
control rooms at Wootton Hall and Campbell Square and the Accident and
Emergency department at Northampton General Hospital. He added: "It was a
very successful night. I am glad to report a clean bill of health on our
police force.

"The work they do is terrific, it is not just value for money, it is way
beyond that."