Latest news with #OperationBegonia
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
Prostitution-linked crimes on Scotland's streets rise for first time in a decade
The Sunday Mail took the streets of Glasgow's east end to gather accounts from current women still selling sex on the streets. Crimes related to prostitution on Scotland's streets have increased for the first time in a decade. Near Glasgow's Barras Market, Barrowlands Ballroom and the quiet streets behind Tennent's Brewery, women stand alone looking for punters who will pay cash for sex. These are the same streets where Emma Caldwell would stand 20 years ago and also previously the areas frequented by her killer Iain Packer. Punters in cars pull up and give the nod before cash exchanges hands and a sex act is carried out nearby for as little as £20. However, despite crimes associated with prostitution having fallen steadily by 81 per cent since 2014, the period of 2023-24 saw a 16 per cent increase, with 72 crimes recorded up from 62 crimes in 2022-23. The Glasgow City area also saw the highest recorded crimes with 44 per cent in 2023-24 according to the latest Scottish government figures. It comes as Packer was finally brought to justice last year – 19 years after killing Emma. The Sunday Mail took the streets of Glasgow's east end to gather accounts from current women still selling sex on the streets. We spoke to one mum, now 42, who began selling sex at just 15, and has worked as a sex worker in the city for 25 years. She said: 'I knew Emma, I was around Duke Street where she was working back then. 'I've been out here since about 1998 when I first tried heroin at 15. 'I don't want to be here but I have to be as I'm addicted to crack and cocaine. There are still guys out looking every night of the week but they want you for as little as £20. 'Emma's name still brings me to tears 20 years later. She didn't deserve what happened to her, she deserved so much better. 'She was a beautiful soul and in some way, we are all like Emma. We are out here because we have to be, not because we want to be. I remember Packer. "I will have been with him at some point as he was always about then. " Packer is where he should be but all these years on, the girls are still here, the streets are still not safe but there is money to be made. "When I was on heroin I would have sold my soul for a tenner. 'The only thing that could save me is jail. 'I'd rather be in prison than here.' A second woman, who says she knew Emma from the early 2000s, said: 'We all remember Emma. But we are still here doing this because we need to. There's still business or we wouldn't be here.' A third woman said she had only recently begun selling sex on the streets. She added: 'I'm just new to this, but I'm here because I need the money.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said:'There is no place for the commercial sexual exploitation of any individual in Scotland. 'We are taking action to support women to sustainably exit from prostitution. This includes our joint work with Police Scotland to implement their new national approach to prostitution, Operation Begonia, where officers signpost women to local support and at the same time, challenge and deter men's demand for prostitution.' Detective Superintendent Steven Bertram, lead on Prostitution, Police Scotland, said: ' Prostitution brings a significant threat of risk and harm to people and communities. 'People involved in prostitution, most of whom are women, are particularly vulnerable to violence. ' Drug or alcohol related issues, or poverty, can drive people into prostitution, particularly on street. 'Our approach, as demonstrated in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Dundee, focuses on safety and welfare, engaging with people and signposting them to support available from our partners, and hopefully reducing the risk of violence. 'This is about building trust and confidence in policing. It's about safer communities and supported victims. And it's about tackling violence against women and girls in all its forms.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
STV News
30-04-2025
- STV News
Street prostitution: 'We're patrolling the streets to support vulnerable women'
Police in Dundee have been patrolling streets known for prostitution in a bid to tackle the issue. Street prostitution is still a problem in Scotland's major cities, leaving desperate women vulnerable to violence, for as little as £10. Since the start of 2025, nine men have been charged with soliciting in Dundee. It's part of a nationwide approach to tackling prostitution, and getting women the help they need, to build a better life. STV News Police officers patrol the streets of Dundee in crackdown on street prostitution STV News On Tuesday evening, STV News joined officers who were patrolling on foot while others circled the area in unmarked cars, looking for kerb crawlers. Police officers Elise and Kirsten have got to know many of the women well, who are vulnerable and desperate. Their priority is to make sure the women have the support they need. STV News Police officers Elise and Kirsten patrol the streets of Dundee in crackdown on street prostitution STV News Sergeant Kirsten Kiddie told STV News: 'Tonight we've been out and about in plain clothes, some vehicles out and some in marked police vehicles. 'We're just looking for patterns of vehicles travelling in the area that are potentially involved in soliciting females involved in on-street sex work. 'So what we'd be doing is looking at vehicles that are circling the area, maybe stop and engage with any known females. 'We're in a known area that would be known to us as a police service as where people work in terms of picking up what we would commonly refer to as kerb-crawlers. 'Tonight we've seen a few vehicles that have been within the area. They've not quite reached the threshold for where wed be looking to take action against them yet but we're monitoring them and monitoring them in he area. STV News Police officers patrol the streets of Dundee in crackdown on street prostitution STV News 'We've obviously seen a couple of females however there's a wee bit of level activity in terms of numbers within the street tonight. One of them has made off before we could engage with them and we've got another unit there trying to deal with a female and offer them some kind of support services and check their welfare.' Operation Begonia began in Aberdeen and is now in action in Dundee and Glasgow and will be rolled out across the country. It aims to challenge the demand for prostitution and ultimately help steer women away from selling sex on the streets. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
30-04-2025
- Daily Record
Men charged for soliciting as Scots cops launch crackdown on kerb crawling
At least nine men have been charged with soliciting in Dundee amid a new police crackdown on kerb crawling. Cops in the city have also been arresting and charging anyone attempting to purchase sex. Officers are focusing on areas known for on street prostitution and have been engaging with people involved in sex work to make sure they are safe and signposted to support from local partner agencies. It has resulted in nine charges so far. This new approach was piloted in Aberdeen, and is now in action in Glasgow and Dundee, specifically in areas where on street prostitution remains an issue. It will also be adopted across the country where specific Operation Begonia patrols are in addition to regular police patrols. Detective Superintendent Steven Bertram, lead on Prostitution, Police Scotland, said: 'Prostitution brings a significant threat of risk and harm to people and communities. 'People involved in prostitution, most of whom are women, are particularly vulnerable to violence. 'Drug or alcohol related issues, or poverty, can drive people into prostitution, particularly on street. 'Our approach, as demonstrated in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Dundee, focuses on safety and welfare, engaging with people and signposting them to support available from our partners, and hopefully reducing the risk of violence. 'This is about building trust and confidence in policing. It's about safer communities and supported victims. And it's about tackling violence against women and girls in all its forms.' Siobhan Brown, Minister for Victims and Community Safety, joined Police Scotland officers in Dundee last night, Tuesday, April 29, to see the service's new national approach to prostitution in action. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Victims Minister Siobhan Brown said: 'I was pleased to visit Dundee to learn more about Police Scotland's new national approach to tackle demand for prostitution, Operation Begonia, which recognises women involved in prostitution as victims of exploitation and signposts them to local support organisations, whilst also challenging and deterring men's demand. 'This is an early outcome of our joint work with Police Scotland and this approach, with a focus on safety and support for those involved in commercial sexual exploitation, will help to contribute to better outcomes for victims as well as safer communities.'
The Courier
30-04-2025
- The Courier
9 men charged since launch of Dundee police prostitution operation
Nine men have been charged since the launch of a Dundee policing operation to clamp down on prostitution. Officers have been targeting areas of the city well known for on-street prostitution and engaging with those involved as part of Operation Begonia. The operation is part of the force's national approach to combating prostitution in cities across Scotland. Police and partner agencies are trying to identify and help disadvantaged and vulnerable women involved. The patrols also aim to tackle kerb-crawling from those looking to use prostitution. Three of these patrols have led to nine men being charged with soliciting since the operation began in Dundee in January. Superintendent Keith Duncan said: 'There's always been a demand for prostitution or services of a sexual nature in Dundee. 'Police officers are being tasked to go out in that area where we know prostitutes frequent in Dundee, which is a particularly small area within the centre of Dundee. 'We will go out there with plain-clothed officers and unmarked cars to look for the telltale signs of individuals looking to engage in the services of sex workers. 'We will engage with them, and if there's evidence to suggest they're taking part, we will absolutely charge them. 'In terms of the women and girls involved, we will look to introduce them to that sustainable pathway through public sector and third sector agencies such as WRASAC (Women's Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre) and Women's Hub.' It is understood at least 15 women have been referred to partner agencies for support since January. Patrols have been carried out in Maryfield and Coldside, where prostitutes are known to frequent, including on Tuesday night when The Courier joined officers taking part in the operation. Detective Superintendent Steven Bertram, the force's lead on prostitution, said: 'Prostitution brings a significant threat of risk and harm to people and communities. 'People involved in prostitution, most of whom are women, are particularly vulnerable to violence. 'Drug or alcohol-related issues, or poverty, can drive people into prostitution, particularly on the street. 'Our approach focuses on safety and welfare, engaging with people and signposting them to support available from our partners, and hopefully reducing the risk of violence.'
