The head of the St. Ann police has given his given commitment to take decisive action against prostitutes in Ocho Rios and Salem/Runaway Bay in the parish.
Head of the St. Ann police, SSP Wayne Cameron noted the decision to take this step came out of a meeting which he had with the parish council, where he was tackled for not addressing the problem of prostitution in the parish.
While addressing the St. Ann Police Divison stakeholders’ meeting held at the Royal Decameron Resort Hotel in Runaway Bay on Tuesday, April 5, SSP Cameron vowed to deal with the issue.
Several stakeholders from the tourism, entertainment and business sectors from within the parish also raised concerns that the illegal sex trade of these ‘ladies of the night’ has been providing a haven for illegal vending and for criminals.
Graham Street, Newlin Street, DaCosta Drive, Evelyn Street, Short Lane and lower Main Street are all areas in Ocho Rios that prostitutes usually take over from as early as 9 p.m. However, it was also raised at the meeting that not only female prostitutes are seen in these areas, but also male prostitutes.
In Runaway Bay, prostitutes tend to dominate an area called, ‘Truck Stop’ and areas of Main Street in the town.
“Based on how the law is set up, it is very difficult to prosecute someone for prostitution,” explained SSP Cameron.
This difficulty he noted would be catching the individuals in the act.
He further added that what the police have done elsewhere in Jamaica is to arrest the ladies for soliciting sex. This would be done by observations being done by the police. This, he noted, would be coming to St. Ann as the police seek to take decisive action to address the concerns of prostitution.
However, SSP Cameron said that there are some who feel that the women should be left alone and he was hoping that no one would say that the police are destroying an additional source of business for them.
