Lambeth Liberal Democrats back kerb crawling

Lib Dem leader Lumsden thinks we should go soft on kerb crawlers. People in Lambeth say he's got it wrong again." .

The Leader of Lambeth’s Liberal Democrats has called for the decriminalisation of kerb crawling. Papers sent anonymously to Lambeth Labour Group reveal that Councillor Ashley Lumsden, now Opposition Leader of Lambeth Lib Dems, made the claim in November 2004 at a Leaders’ meeting of the Association of Local Government.
Minutes from the meeting record the following:
“Prostitution Reform Consultation (item 10). Cllr Ashley Lumsden (Liberal Democrat, Lambeth) pointed out that there was a long history of prostitutes operating in Lambeth and argued that criminalising users should be removed from the recommendations.“ http://www.alg.gov.uk/upload/public/Files/1/L14-12-04_9-11-04_minutes.doc
Kerb crawling provides the demand which keeps vulnerable women on the streets, and feeds prostitution that blights so many communities. Police and the Labour council have been working tirelessly to tackle the problem of prostitution by cracking down on kerb crawlers and providing support to help women off the streets. Many prostitutes suffer from drug addiction and kerb crawling provides indirect funding for the drug trade.

Lambeth residents will be shocked that the man who believes he is fit to run Lambeth council has been arguing that laws should be changed that will encourage more kerb-crawling, more anti-social behaviour and more drug dealing. A recent anti-kerb-crawling co-ordinated by Lambeth’s Labour Council led to the detection of 432 separate offences over a six week period.

Steve Reed, Labour Leader of Lambeth Council said:

“It’s appalling that the Leader of Lambeth’s Liberal Democrats has been going around arguing for kerb-crawlers to be allowed to roam our streets. This is typical of the Lib Dems’ soft approach to crime and anti-social behaviour.”

“We don’t want prostitution on our streets. Councillor Lumsden should be more concerned about the rights of abused women, many of them trafficked into prostitution, rather than the rights of the perverts who want to abuse them.”

Share you views on this and other local issues in the Lambeth Forum and be kept informed about local issues by emailing subscribe@lambethlabour.com.

To let us know your view on this issue, get help from your local councillor, or discover how you can help Labour in Lambeth, please complete the form below.