Commentary by Kyle Cowan
Late in the cold winter nights, Paterson Street becomes alive with activity. Short skirts, loose tops and a jacket here and there. They light a fire on the street corners, presumably to keep the produce warm.
Prostitutes. Bar none, there is no better entertainment in the world. While quietly observing, Five Cent Piece witnessed one of these women take two walk-in customers behind a tree in less than ten minutes. Shortly thereafter, the same woman was picked up, and was only seen again the following night.
Oh yes, Paterson Street is one of the busiest business centres in town. The funny thing is, the police maintain that it is too difficult to prove that any solicitation took place. The prostitute won’t admit it, because then she goes to court. The customer won’t admit it, because then he is guilty of visiting a prostitute. Something his wife won’t be too pleased with, to be sure.
It can’t be that difficult can it? The police are fully aware of the exact location these women frequent; is a simple stake out operation to difficult? Or perhaps an undercover sting? Simple enough. Plain clothes policeman walks up to the suspected prostitute, when she offers him the goods, done deal. Arrested, night in jail.
The problem it seems is not really an insurmountable one. Is it perhaps that the police cannot bust these women, because they themselves frequent the services offered, as some residents suggest? Or is it simple apathy to a problem that is not really life-threatening?
Five Cent Piece has witnessed this apathy first hand, as he again stood, quietly skulking and watching. A female traffic officer stopped across the road from the Newcastle Advertiser offices.
She stood for a while talking with a man who stopped close by. After a lengthy chat, both got in their vehicles and left, without so much as a word to a group of prostitutes gathered not 20 metres from them.
The couple witnessed Five Cent Piece with his camera, to which the male responded by shouting “Don’t take out photos of my number plate!”
Don’t worry, my good man. Your number plate wasn’t nearly the subject of the photograph. The simple ‘don’t care’ attitude shown by you and your friend in uniform is much more interesting.
