Residents start prostitute patrol

Some residents said they regard the presence of prostitutes as anti-social

Residents in a part of Berkshire have mounted street patrols in a bid to tackle the rise in prostitutes working near their homes.

People living in Chalvey, Slough, have appealed for an increased police presence and the installation of CCTV.

Christine Hume, who lives in the area, said the "close-knit community" felt uncomfortable that sex workers were working on their doorsteps .

Police said they would increase patrols and work with residents on the issue.

Families living in the town set up campaign group Action4Chalvey in a bid to tackle the number of sex workers who have moved from other parts of Slough.

'Young girls'

They said they were inspired by similar action groups formed in other towns across England which had success in deterring street prostitution.

Ms Hume said: "The residents see this as a source of anti-social behaviour and that their concern could lead to further problems in our community.

"I think the impact of it is that they see this as the thin end of the edge, in terms of deterioration in their community.

"For them it's a way of ensuring the prostitutes, and also the men who come into our area to use prostitutes, are aware that we are out there and... we are not tolerating this".

Ms Hume said the community wanted more police presence and CCTV installed in streets where about 20 women have been spotted working.

Insp Ken Patterson, of Thames Valley Police, said he was keen to work with residents and would maximise the visibility of officers.

"The impact is that some of the young girls or ladies that live in the area are sometimes stopped by the men in cars or walking along the road and clearly that's not very nice for them," he said.