Life beyond the streets

TRICIA Kenyon can often be seen walking the streets of Southampton's inner city in search of prostitutes.

She has made it her mission to befriend and understand the working women who sell their bodies on the streets of Nicholstown.

Far from preaching to the women, she offers them warm drinks, chocolate and a listening ear.

Acting manager Tricia and her fellow outreach workers are involved with the 3D project which aims to show prostitutes there is a life beyond the street - and to offer help to those who want to turn their backs on the oldest profession.

"This is a chance for us to make contact with the women working on the street.

"And once we have made that fist contact we try to introduce them to some 'positive fun'.

"We want to show them a life beyond prostitution and drugs - and help boost their confidence and self-esteem.

"They go swimming or to the cinema - and a couple of them go horse riding.

"With each woman we try to encourage them to develop their interests," she said.

Mary works with Tricia's team and she fully understands the life on the streets. She was once a prostitute and now works with Tricia to help the girls on the game see there is more to life.

She is a perfect example of what can be achieved with a little help from others.

"I know all about what it's like to live on the streets and I know the power of love - and that's what we are giving.

"We are non-judgemental, accepting and caring. We are offering a hand to these women and we hope they will grab it.

"The police are applying the rules and we are giving love," she said.

The focus is on the Nicholstown/Newtown area this week as the latest crime Reduction and environment Week (CREW) takes place.

The council's Community Safety Team join together with the City Patrol Team, Street Cleansing, Housing, Neighborhood Wardens, Highways, Leisure Services and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service sweep through the area with an organized clean up operation.

The aim is to turn the streets of Newtown/Nicholstown into an anti-crime beat this week to improve the environment and crack down anti social behaviour at every level.

"We are working with people living in the area to improve their environment in every way and the work with the prostitutes is an important part of that project," said a spokeswoman for Southampton City Council.

Inspector Chris Kirby - the police representative on CREW - said a three pronged approach was being used to deal with the problem of prostitution.

The men who buy sex are being targeted as well as the women who sell their bodies. For the women there is the 3D project and for those who consistently flout the law, there is hard line approach by the police.

And so far the results have been a real success story.

Of the 256 men who have been caught kerb-crawling and have subsequently taken part in a course run by the police to stop them re-offending only three men have been caught trying to buy sex again.

"We have had a great response with people not re-offending. Of the hundreds of men who were coming into the area, they are just not coming back," he said.

As part of the 3D project, a new out-reach centre is set to open in July. It will offer a haven for the prostitutes and help those who want to make a new life for themselves.

"We will offer things like art classes, jewellery making, computing, creative writing and drama.

"We want to raise the self-esteem of the women. Our overall aim is to help women come out of prostitution if they want to but we don't push change on them.

"We can help them with accommodation and to deal with their addictions.

"We can make other lifestyle options accessible to them - this is about having a real choice," said Tricia.

The 3D project is run by Crime Concern and is funded by the City Safety Team, Drug Action, Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, West Itchen Community Trust and the Central Neighbourhood Partnership.

More volunteers are needed to help with the new centre - anyone who is interested in getting involved should call Tricia on 8022 7703.