Port Kembla's illegal sex industry: the brothels don't want the street workers

Nine people were charged on Friday night as part of Operation Bioka, which targeted prostitutes and "kerb crawlers" (people who solicit sex from street prostitutes).
As an indication of the problem in the area, within hours of being charged, two of the alleged sex workers had returned to the street.
The illegal practice, a feature of Wentworth St for more than a decade, continues to divide the community.
"If this was my last day on earth, I would get a gun and shoot them," said one woman, who works in a hotel in Wentworth St. "They're just no good for the town."
On Friday, police charged four women with street prostitution including a 24-year-old from Warrawong, a 28-year-old from Windang, a 33-year-old from Kanahooka and a 39-year-old from Warrawong.
Two of the women, aged 24 and 33, were arrested again later in the evening for breaching bail conditions after they allegedly returned to the CBD.
Five males, ranging in age from 37 to 50, were charged with soliciting sex from a prostitute. All will appear in Port Kembla Local Court on March 20.
Lake Illawarra police Sergeant John Klepczarek said police were working with Port Kembla Chamber of Commerce, Wollongong City Council and residents to improve the community's image.
Last year police successfully campaigned to have brothels permitted at Port Kembla, to at least get some of the workers off the street
Port Kembla Chamber of Commerce chairman Phil Bowden said legalising brothels in the neighbourhood would not solve the problem of street prostitution.
"From what we hear, the brothels don't want the street workers and vice versa," he said.
A similar police crackdown in April last year resulted in 10 people being charged with various offences.