Sydney prostitution crackdown will continue, says Cape Breton police chief
The arrests of 27 men in a prostitution sting in downtown Sydney is only the beginning of a police effort to clean up the area, Cape Breton Regional Police Chief Peter McIsaac said Wednesday.
"This is only the start of it. We're not done," McIsaac told CBC's Maritime Noon.
"This problem isn't going away any time soon and we will assign whatever resources and whatever investigative techniques we have to to clear up that problem downtown."
Intelligence reports about escalating violence against prostitutes by some johns has disturbed the chief. McIsaac said his concerns range from women going missing, "up to and including a homicide."
The 27 busts represent only a small amount of the activity — there are well over 100 johns that frequent the area, he said.
"These women are being exploited and further victimized. It's just not right. What people don't realize is that 99 per cent of the women who are engaging in this activity aren't there by their choice, they are there by their circumstances," McIsaac said.
'It's survival down there'
"There's mental health issues down there, there are addiction issues, there's lack of support, there's lack of food, there's lack of shelter. When you hear their stories it's quite sad, it's survival down there."
He acknowledged there may be a lack of community support to help the women who lose their income because of the busts. McIsaac said members of the force are reaching out to match them up with other agencies.
T.L. Johannesson, the program manager of Stepping Stone, an outreach organization for sex workers in Halifax, says the crackdown creates unsafe conditions for sex workers.
"It pushes them into the shadows … in dark alleys and country roads," she said.
She believes police resources could be better used creating partnerships between the force, sex workers and agencies like Stepping Stone, to help women with mental health and addiction issues.
"One of the struggles in Cape Breton is that there aren't the resources for sex workers. We are the only agency in Atlantic Canada that supports sex workers and provides resources," said Johannesson.
She opposes the public naming of johns.
"It is only sensationalism," she said. "It marginalizes and stigmatizes sex workers and their clients."
Shame is a deterrent
Meanwhile, johns can expect to see their names published as a result of the stings, said McIsaac.
"We didn't publish the names to shame anyone. Once the formal information is sworn before the court, that name becomes public knowledge," he said.
"By the very nature of the offence, there is a certain amount of public shame that comes with it. If that acts as a deterrent moving forward, so be it."
CBC News has not published the names of the 27 men charged in the prostitution sting. CBC News policy is that the names of people accused of crimes are only reported online when we are certain we can follow the case through to a verdict or conclusion.
Prostitution has been a problem in downtown Sydney for the past two years. Complaints from local residents, businesses and even tourists led to the formation of a task force tackle the problem.
"It has caused a lot of disruption in our community, especially amongst our business people. Some of this activity has been taking place in places where there are community activities going on around libraries, daycares and the YMCA," McIsaac said.
"We're going to everything we can to rid our downtown of this issue."
