Prostitute gets red-light zone ban

A prostitute with more than 125 convictions for soliciting has been banned from working in a London red-light zone in the first case of its kind in the capital.

Kerry Weston, 32, is prohibited from plying her trade in Seven Sisters and surrounding areas under an anti-social behaviour order normally used to target unruly youths and nuisance neighbours.

She faces five years in jail if she is caught soliciting, engaging in sex or discarding "sex-associated litter" in a public place in Haringey, Hackney or Islington.

The use of the order is the latest effort in a long-running campaign to rid the Seven Sisters area of prostitution.

Police are also considering taking out similar orders against kerb-crawlers. Since new legislation on 1 October enabled them to arrest kerbcrawlers, more than 60 drivers have been arrested.

Ms Weston is one of 10 prostitutes who regularly work the area and she has amassed more than £7,000 in fines for soliciting over the past three years. Acting Supt Adam Barton-of Tottenham police, said: "The problem of prostitution is causing a lot of distress and alarm to local residents.

"It is not just the kerbcrawling but the litter associated with the business and connections to crack-cocaine dealing.

"We have been trying to deal with the problem for many years using different approaches and we looked at the anti-social behaviour order as another way of tackling the problem. We hope this sends a message to the other women using the area."

Ms Weston, who lives in Tottenham, said: "I am fuming. I live in Haringey but they have banned me from Haringey."

Her friend Michelle Farley, who runs a local support group for sex workers, said: "Kerry is responsible.

"She does the work that she does but she does not loiter. She doesn't take people into gardens or go into schools."

The case is the first time anti-social behaviour orders have been used against prostitutes in London. Similar action has been taken in Birmingham with some success.

In London, only 40 such orders have been issued since they were introduced two years ago.