2008 Woodie Awards
Prostitution plagues Anderson
Police intervention falls short of curbing problem.
By: Melissa Whitson
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: News
The idea of prostitutes wandering the streets seems like an issue far removed from the picturesque college town of Clemson. However, despite four years of joint intervention efforts by the Anderson County Sherriff's Office and the Anderson City Police Department, prostitution continues to afflict the nearby city.
While the county's sheriff's office reported only 68 arrests in the past three years, requests from residents and business owners have pressured Anderson officials to crack down even harder on those linked with prostitution. During the week of Aug. 24 alone, Anderson police arrested six women for the crime.
Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts said he understands that socioeconomic changes have contributed to prostitution becoming more prevalent in southern areas of the city.
Roberts said part of the problem can be attributed to homeowners leaving their homes to become rental properties.
In an interview published by the Anderson Independent-Mail, Roberts said his idea of a solution involves getting the community to be more aware of the issue. "I would think, by the very nature of it, it is a very hard thing to see - as far as people being concealed," said Roberts. "My observation is, when I go to St. Mary's of the Angels [church] on White Street during the week, there are women walking the streets."
Anderson is not the only small town struggling with problems of prostitution. When residents in Tocoma, Wash. found themselves in a similar situation, the city founded Safe Streets, a community group that combines the efforts of local organizations, leaders and the city's government to combat prostitution and crime.
The group has worked to eradicate both the practice of prostitution as well as the demand for sex workers.
Anderson city officials hope to adopt similar strategies to rid the city streets of crime.
Community groups that unite residents, public officials and law enforcement serve as the city's primary means of moving prostitutes and drug dealers out of Anderson and are often first to alert police of seedy activity.
While the county's sheriff's office reported only 68 arrests in the past three years, requests from residents and business owners have pressured Anderson officials to crack down even harder on those linked with prostitution. During the week of Aug. 24 alone, Anderson police arrested six women for the crime.
Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts said he understands that socioeconomic changes have contributed to prostitution becoming more prevalent in southern areas of the city.
Roberts said part of the problem can be attributed to homeowners leaving their homes to become rental properties.
In an interview published by the Anderson Independent-Mail, Roberts said his idea of a solution involves getting the community to be more aware of the issue. "I would think, by the very nature of it, it is a very hard thing to see - as far as people being concealed," said Roberts. "My observation is, when I go to St. Mary's of the Angels [church] on White Street during the week, there are women walking the streets."
Anderson is not the only small town struggling with problems of prostitution. When residents in Tocoma, Wash. found themselves in a similar situation, the city founded Safe Streets, a community group that combines the efforts of local organizations, leaders and the city's government to combat prostitution and crime.
The group has worked to eradicate both the practice of prostitution as well as the demand for sex workers.
Anderson city officials hope to adopt similar strategies to rid the city streets of crime.
Community groups that unite residents, public officials and law enforcement serve as the city's primary means of moving prostitutes and drug dealers out of Anderson and are often first to alert police of seedy activity.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
PDaddy
posted 9/09/08 @ 1:52 PM EST
The APD should do what other communities have done. They setup sting operations with undercover cops posing as streetwalkers; catch the johns that pay for the service & throw them in jail as well. (Continued…)
RB
posted 9/16/08 @ 8:22 AM EST
This is a joke, I grew up in Anderson and there is no problem. It exists, but it is not like there are hookers walking all over town.
Natural Cures
posted 9/16/08 @ 8:46 AM EST
In Nevada prostitution is legal and they do not have problems with all those felonies that go along with it. So the federal government has nothing against prostitution. (Continued…)
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