Swakop residents to tackle hookers

RESIDENTS living close to Swakopmund’s central business district will begin to patrol the streets at night, with help from members of the Namibian Police, in an effort to rid the CBD of the growing problem of prostitutes.

Up to 60 affected residents, who say they are constantly harassed by prostitutes, have decided to take drastic action by laying charges against the “ladies of the night”. Representatives of the residents recently met with Chief Inspector Bernhard Uirab and Magistrate Gibson Imbili to find out about the legal means at their disposal to address the problem of prostitution in the centre of town.”We were informed there are laws under which we can protect ourselves against the invasion of the prostitutes,” said an affected resident, who preferred not to be named.The Police have no power to arrest the women unless they are caught in the act of soliciting or practising sex.They can only act once formal charges have been made against the prostitutes.Chief Inspector Bernhard Uirab, Swakopmund Station Commander, confirmed yesterday that patrols of the area where prostitutes operate would start this week.Residents decided at a meeting held on Sunday to join the Police on their patrols.They will take photographs of sex workers, and note down vehicle registration numbers of their clients.The affected resident told The Namibian that it was mostly local people, including those driving Government vehicles, who made use of the services of prostitutes.”About three of them [prostitutes] are only around 15 years old.People should remember it is illegal to have sex with an under-aged person,” said one resident.The prostitution problem was first raised in August last year when Margit D’Avignon, Chairperson of the Swakopmund Ratepayers Association, handed a petition with 450 signatures to the Magistrate to object to the practice in the CBD.She said at the time that although the practice had been around for many years, the number of prostitutes had increased drastically.At the same time their behaviour had deteriorated.”They are raucous; they scream and storm after possible clients in cars.Some even display an aggressive manner.”While residents who have come to know their faces are constantly abused verbally, male tourists often have to take refuge in the nearest restaurant or shop to escape the stalking, harassing women.Some shop owners said the women urinated on the pavements, left behind discarded condom packets as well as used condoms, liquor bottles and other rubbish.The affected group also feel that they have to act now to contain the problem before it degenerates and attracts all kinds of other criminal activities, such as drug dealing.Representatives of the residents recently met with Chief Inspector Bernhard Uirab and Magistrate Gibson Imbili to find out about the legal means at their disposal to address the problem of prostitution in the centre of town.”We were informed there are laws under which we can protect ourselves against the invasion of the prostitutes,” said an affected resident, who preferred not to be named.The Police have no power to arrest the women unless they are caught in the act of soliciting or practising sex.They can only act once formal charges have been made against the prostitutes.Chief Inspector Bernhard Uirab, Swakopmund Station Commander, confirmed yesterday that patrols of the area where prostitutes operate would start this week.Residents decided at a meeting held on Sunday to join the Police on their patrols.They will take photographs of sex workers, and note down vehicle registration numbers of their clients.The affected resident told The Namibian that it was mostly local people, including those driving Government vehicles, who made use of the services of prostitutes.”About three of them [prostitutes] are only around 15 years old.People should remember it is illegal to have sex with an under-aged person,” said one resident.The prostitution problem was first raised in August last year when Margit D’Avignon, Chairperson of the Swakopmund Ratepayers Association, handed a petition with 450 signatures to the Magistrate to object to the practice in the CBD.She said at the time that although the practice had been around for many years, the number of prostitutes had increased drastically.At the same time their behaviour had deteriorated.”They are raucous; they scream and storm after possible clients in cars.Some even display an aggressive manner.”While residents who have come to know their faces are constantly abused verbally, male tourists often have to take refuge in the nearest restaurant or shop to escape the stalking, harassing women.Some shop owners said the women urinated on the pavements, left behind discarded condom packets as well as used condoms, liquor bottles and other rubbish.The affected group also feel that they have to act now to contain the problem before it degenerates and attracts all kinds of other criminal activities, such as drug dealing.