Vice police to curb crawlers

Kerb crawling is linked to violence against women

Police in Plymouth say they will be restrained at first in using new laws against kerb crawlers.

But tough action will be taken against persistent offenders.

Residents of the Millbay Road area are hoping the new powers will bring an end to harassment of innocent women.

The Criminal Justice and Police Act, introduced this week, gives police the power to arrest kerb crawlers and force them to give fingerprints and DNA samples.

Softly-softly

Previously officers were required to issue a summons before arresting a suspect.

The new powers have already been vigorously used elsewhere.

This week police in Birmingham carried out an early-morning raid on the streets of Ladywood and Edgbaston.

Devon and Cornwall Police say persistent kerb crawlers will feel the full force of the new powers.

But the force says it will adopt a softly-softly approach at first to try to deter offenders.

The residents association in the Millbay Road area says it is the kerb crawlers, not the the prostitutes, who cause most complaints.

It says persistent offenders spend as much as four hours at a time driving round the area looking for vice girls - often trying to pick up innocent women.