FOR the past two years, prostitution has become a growing problem in Lansdowne, Wetton and Ottery.

A group of “fed-up” residents has decided to take a stand and started a “Taking Back Our Streets Lansdowne Against Prostitution” campaign.

The campaign started two weeks ago after a local Imaam called on the community in the Friday prayers to take a stand. Residents took to the streets on Friday 10 February and have since patrolled nightly.

The campaign’s spokesperson, Ashraf Kenny, explains: “The increase in prostitution started about two years ago. At first they were very undercover, then word-of-mouth spread and a market opened up and led to more prostitutes coming along. We as residents are trying to take back our streets. We grew up here, our children are growing up here and we want our community to be rid of this increasing problem.”

The campaign members patrol the streets at night, on foot and in cars, to stop men from picking up women on street corners.

“We don’t patrol the streets to cause trouble with the prostitutes or with the men who pick them up. All we are trying to do is to stop it from happening in our area. The patrols make it very difficult for men to pick a woman up. W go up to the car and ask very nicely if they will leave,” says Kenny.

The has have not had any problems while patrolling, says Kenny.

“It all lies in the way in which you approach. We try to approach very cautiously and ask nicely; if you’re going to come on aggressively, you’re going to get an aggressive reaction,” he adds.

On the first night patrol, the group counted about 35 prostitutes operating along the road. On Sunday, two weeks later, there were only five. “Because we don’t have authority to make arrests or anything like that, the prostitutes who remain know that we can’t do anything to them. This will become a bit of a challenge, but we won’t stop until they are completely gone.

Community members are welcome to join these nightly patrols. The group usually meets at the Shukrul Mubeen Madrasah Complex in Ahmadeyah Road, Lansdowne at 21:30.