D4 suburb complain of prostitutes

Householders in an affluent Dublin 4 community have called for more Garda patrols to clamp down on prostitution in the area.

The residents' committee in the Mount Street Crescent and Percy Place area claims the activity is making the area unsafe for children to play and is affecting property prices.

A circular entitled 'Prostitution In Your Area' distributed to homes in the area last week urged residents to complain to local gardaí.

The prostitutes and their clients are using local gardens and lanes and discarding condoms and syringes, the circular claimed.

A Garda spokesman said today that the force was aware of the general issues raised by the residents but said it had not received many complaints from the area.

He added: "Gardaí in uniform and plain clothes patrol the Mount Street Crescent/Percy Place area in an effort to curb illegal activity.

"During August 6, arrests were made in respect of this activity."

Leafy areas along the Grand Canal between Leeson Street and Lower Mount Street are well known as areas used by prostitutes at night.

Local property prices are high in the area, which is close to the city centre as well as luxury hotels and foreign embassies.

A 21-year-old prostitute was stabbed to death near Baggot Street Bridge in June 1998.

The circular from the residents' committee said: "These undesirables are affecting the value of property and most importantly making it unsafe for children to play and residents to go about their everyday business without being harasses by prostitutes looking for so called 'trade'.

"There are nightly occurrences of prostitutes congregating in the area and attracting kerb crawlers.

"It has been brought to out attention that gardens/lanes are being used for activities of these people and condoms and syringes are being found."

The circular note urged householders in the area to contact the gardaí about their concerns.

"We will be continuing out campaign on behalf of the residents and also monitoring the situation," it added.