Ellee Seymour

Three months on from the terrible murders of the five Ipswich prostitutes, police and council chiefs are planning the biggest ever crackdown aimed at ridding the town of its red-light district.

Plans being drawn up include stricter use of Asbos against prostitutes and a more focused law enforcement against kerb crawlers. Women will be offered help to tackle the cause of their problems as part of a move that will also see the introduction of improved street lighting and extra CCTV cameras for the red light area.

But the English Collective of Prostitutes said it was horrified the authorities want to introduce a crackdown that has been shown to force women underground and make them more vulnerable to attack and asked: “Have no lessons be learned?”

They say women in Ipswich are waiting months to get into drug treatment programmes and believe think the street lighting and cameras are just a cover for a “brutal crackdown”.

Ipswich borough councillor David Ellesmere said the plans represent a “once in a lifetime opportunity� to banish the problem.

“What this strategy will say is; ‘We’re not going to tolerate street prostitution anywhere in Ipswich. We’ve never had a strong statement like that before.

“We’ve got to do as much as we can to help these women out of these difficult circumstances but if they have received the help and are still going out on the streets then you have got to look at Asbos.

“The reason Ipswich and Norwich have red-light areas is because kerb-crawlers know they can pick up prostitutes. If you break that cycle, kerb crawlers won’t come here and women won’t go out on the streets.â€?

Coun Ellesmere is right to say this is the time for them to banish the problem. But I note that the plans have been put forward by the Ipswich Prostitutes Steering Group made up of police, council and drug worker representatives. Are any represent from the ECP taking part in this unique opportunity?

I’ve written about this subject before, and raised the question of legalised brothels, and the many comments give a valuable insight into various views on this. We clearly need to tackle the drug issue, the reality is that prostitution will continue and forcing it underground will not help their safety.

I do not see how plans can be formulated without seeking the views of prostitutes on what it will mean for them. I would like to see the police and local authority working with these women and their organisation and try to achieve a solution that could be a model of best practice for the country.

A letter to Sally Clark, whose death at her home has just been announced.

Dear Sally,

I can’t imagine there is one mother in the country who didn’t share your sense of anguish, your feeling of abandonment and utter bewilderment, as well as the deep grief you experienced following the loss of your two dear little baby boys who died inexplicable only a few weeks old.

That alone is the cruellest blow that can dealt to any parent. I could not survive such a tragedy. You then had to suffer the nudges and pointed fingers and, even worse, a criminal court case where you were convicted of their murder following misleading evidence given by paediatrician Sir Roy Meadow. Despite all your your legal experience and your faith and respect for British justice, you were convicted and torn apart from your home, your husband and your remaining son. Can any nightmare be worse? Mercifully, you were later freed on appeal, though your pain and inner turmoil must have been insurmountable, the life sentence would last for ever.

This is one the saddest and most sorrowful cases I have heard. I always admired the strength and loyalty of your husband and family who stalwartly believed in your innocence, their suffering now must be more than words can describe.

I have no answers as to why life is so cruel to some, if only we could turn the clock back….

Each month, I issue a report for MEP Robert Sturdy following the extortionate and costly monthly sitting of the European Parliament in  Strasbourg  which is sent to the local press, I thought you might like to see the latest one. 

View from Strasbourg – March 2007

“A funny thing happened to me on Tuesday.  I was on my way to the Parliament building and I saw fire trucks surrounding the building!  I must say, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of that.  Hurray, I thought, we can finally be rid of Strasbourg.  This ridiculous waste of time and money is finally gone (although not in the way we thought it would be).  Imagine my dismay then when I realised it was a bunch of firemen picketing the building for better employment rights.  It looks like we’ll have to rely on the one seat campaign after all.

“I met with Peter Mandelson EU Trade Commissioner this week to discuss the difficulties which surround the DOHA agreement and the likelihood of us reaching a compromise before the deadline.  My report on Economic Partnership Agreements between the EU and ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) countries is being voted through the International Trade Committee of the Parliament next week so I was pleased to speak again about this issue.  These EPAs offer a way for trade to be used as a tool to aid development but it is important that we don’t impose ourselves on these countries but work with them to ensure fair and competitive markets for all.

“In Strasbourg my thoughts turned to the upcoming celebrations of the 50^th anniversary of the EU. In a few days, EU leaders will agree a declaration to be signed in Berlin to reflect on the achievements of the EU over the past half-century. Now no-one, no matter what your personal or political views may be, can disregard the values of peace, prosperity and democracy as promoted within this declaration. Its recognition that energy, climate change, the environment and economic development are responsibilities shared by all is encouraging. But at the same time, I feel uneasy at the resurgence yet again of the constitutional debate which has crept, not so subtly, back onto the EU agenda. When will our European counterparts accept this treaty is not wanted by the people and is not necessary in achieving our aims and ambitions? Surely ignoring the referendums of previous years goes against the principles of democracy which apparently guide and define us?

“The Commission also announced this week, that together with the current German Presidency, it will be holding a review into European Water Management Law. The review, which takes place this month, will report on which Member States have failed to meet the deadline of the European Water Framework Directive. Water Management is a very important issue for us all and full commitment is needed to protect our food, our land and above all our health. The truth is not always easy to take, but only with transparency and accountability, can we meet the challenges that face us.”

One subject certain to arouse anger among householders is the fortnightly rubbish collection and fears over the vermin it attracts. Local newspapers have filled their letters and news pages several times over on this topic.

Yet in spite of these very real concerns, government seems to be in favour of ending the weekly bin collection, saying there would be no hygiene problems if rubbish was properly wrapped.

But according to this report, Labour was warned by its own scientists that abolishing weekly rubbish collections DID increase the threat of infestation by rats, insects and other vermin. Isn’t this threat likely to increase with hotter summers and global warming?

The damning report was produced by scientists inside the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs last January. It states:

“There are significant gaps in knowledge to fully understand the implications of changes to collection routines. Providing alternate weekly collection to facilitate recycling schemes could result in accumulation of waste at households.

“This could encourage vermin and insects into the home environment, which could potentially increase disease transmission routes.”

So why has this advice been ignored? And surely householders already know about wrapping up leaking or smelly waste before throwing it out, they would be doing their utmost to prevent rats appearing on their doorstep.

I totally support a fortnightly collection of recyclables, but why not also maintain the weekly collection of residual household waste? Householders will be forced to reduce the amount collected anyway with pay-as-you-throw schemes being introduced.

The government and local authorities are choosing the cheapest and easy way out. I just don’t see any sense in it. Good luck to Doretta Cox and her Campaign for Weekly Waste Collection. Still, if this new quango takes over responsibility for rubbish collection, it’s unlikely their voice, or anyone else’s, will be heard.

Where I live in East Cambridgeshire, our rubbish is still collected each week, and I want it to stay that way, but neighbouring authorities have introduced fortnightly collections and I have not met anybody who thinks it is a good idea. Has it worked where you are? What are your views about fortnightly rubbish collections?