INSIDE THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT
What’s it like living in the Welsh city where locals say sex is on sale 24 hours a day?
IT could be any 21st century city street. Except this is Commercial Road. And the problem of prostitution has made it one of the most notorious thoroughfares in Britain.
It hit the headlines last year and again this week, when it was reported prostitutes were selling themselves from 6am.
Pam Glover has lived in Pill all her life.
“We’ve had problems just walking up to town,” the 67-year-old said.
“You get accosted on the way up at quarter to 12 in the day.
“My neighbour said last week she called the police when, at 6am, she saw a pimp beating up a girl outside.”
One building on Ruperra Street is said to be “full” of sex workers.
Pam said the women made no bones about what they were offering.
“I saw one opening up her coat to show the goods,” she said.
“She was wearing a top but her body language told you what she was offering.
“And it’s the deviants attracting. It’s not safe.
“They are attracting kerb crawlers and local residents are getting propositioned.
“I was born on the next street from here, was brought up on the street after that and now I live in this one,” Pam said from her home in Adeline Street.
She claimed a police source had told them there were 30 prostitutes operating in Pill.
Across the road from the junction of Ruperra Street and Commercial Street is the Jamia Mosque.
Farooq Dastgir and his friend Ali Ghafar worship there. “It’s 24/7,” Farooq said. “Walking these streets is like walking through Amsterdam.
“They will just approach you and if you’re a local person or a vulnerable person the attitude is rude and abusive.
“They are only after money. They have even attacked older people to get their money out of them, to try they are and blackmail them by telling their family that the man has been to bed with them.”
He fears for the youth of Pill growing up in that environment.
In recent months police and ambulance crews have been targeted by thugs – some as young as 13 – firing commercial grade fireworks at them.
“Kids are growing up in this situation and it is not a normal situation,” Farooq said.
“It’s not just the prostitution. Drugs are sold on the street like sweets.
“People are coming from outside the area because it is a playground for criminals. But we are living here.”
Sex workers have climbed into his car when he has parked at the mosque.
“It has happened multiple times,” he said.
“The minute you park the car someone will open the door and will say, ‘Are you looking for business?’
“I have had to say, ‘Please leave the car.’ It’s happened to four or five different people. It’s a regular event outside the mosque.
“I’ve another building on Commercial Road and you have to pass through them to get to the entrance.”
Ali, smartly dressed in a long grey coat, backed up Farooq.
“Once we were praying inside and when we came out we saw this lady was standing there,” he said.
“She was fully drunk and said she had to go to the bathroom.
“She was told there was a bathroom inside. She came into the lobby area and urinated there.”
The Pill Mill, on Courtybella Terrace, is a hub of community activity hosting everything from boxing matches to weddings.
Boss Tracey Holyoake said working girls were often seen hanging around the disused public toilets at the bottom of the street.
“They are there from early in the morning until late at night,” she said.
“If you park anywhere in Pill they will approach you.
“Police drive past them like they have a designated area. They often drive past them and do nothing.
“I don’t know whey they don’t take them off the streets.
“As much as they are vulnerable – and I get that because they are young – we have got residents here who are just as vulnerable.”
Tracey said the prostitutes – some said to be teenagers – are selling themselves to feed drug habits.
“It’s their way of getting a hit or fix,” Tracey said.
“There was a girl who was 14 I was chatting to. She was a foreigner doing it to support her family.”
There is poverty here. The streets are dirty. The most notorious area of Commercial Road is known as “The Front Line”.
One resident, who did not want to be named, said this was because “you can get anything you want there”.
“The prostitutes are quite aggressive,” said Sally Wallis, who has lived in Pill for 11 years.
“Some look 12 but I don’t know whether they are.
drivers “You whoget a parklot of off long-distanceFrederick Street,”lorry Sally said.
“There were 11 parked up there last night and it’s only a small industrial estate.
“The girls go up and they knock on the windows.”
Tony Southall was not unsympathetic to the plight of the women.
The chairman of Pill Bank Lane Neighbourhood Watch said: “Some are there as a profession, some are there because they are forced and some are there because of drug habits. “All need help, guidance and support but that is not going to happen because police and partner agencies do not see it as a priority. “It’s having a snowball effect, people are leaving the area – meaning the community spirit is being ripped apart.” He added: “The police are saying they are going by the guidelines to get them support and get them off the streets. It’s like a recorded message. “Every time they are challenged they say they are working with partner agencies. We’ve never been contacted.
“People don’t want to walk the streets in case they are accosted.
“Older people might be scared because on one corner might be these women and on another might be someone who looks rather intimidating.
“It’s depressing, it’s really depressing. And people are scared to talk because of the possibility of reprisals.”
This week Gwent Police insisted it was “concentrating efforts” on working with people in Pill.
The force is “seeking to understand the specific issues of prostitution”.
“We want to balance our response to ensure that we deal with the impact of prostitution which is felt by the people living and working in the area but equally recognise that we need to protect the women who are putting themselves at risk through street prostitution,” Superintendent
Glyn Fernquest said.
“Enforcement action does not always offer sustainable outcomes, and can actually increase vulnerability and the potential exploitation of sex workers.”
In the last month officers have worked with the Women’s Pathfinder Scheme and South East Wales Regional Equality Council to persuade prostitutes to “change their lifestyles”.
“During the operations officers have patrolled the area alongside our partner agencies offering specialist support to sex workers,” Supt Fernquest said.
“Some of those who were offered support were also provided with more comprehensive alternatives by our partners in order to help minimise and eliminate risk associated with prostitution.
“These diversionary tactics are paramount to help divert women away from this lifestyle and guide them into a safer future.”
Newport council is working with public service board One Newport to address Pill’s problems.
“Leader of the council Councillor Debbie Wilcox, and the elected representatives of the people of Pillgwenlly have made it very clear that engagement with the local community, groups and traders is the most critical part of this process,” a spokeswoman said.
“This will be undertaken as part of the overall plan. Coun Wilcox has also written directly to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent asking for collaborative assistance with this issue.”