WA: Restraining order by suburb against prostitute withdrawn

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2000
WA: Restraining order by suburb against prostitute withdrawn

PERTH, Aug 14 AAP - Attempts by residents of an inner Perth suburb to take out a restraining
order against a street prostitute were abandoned in a Perth court today.

Highgate residents had hoped to obtain a restraining order against Sriti Ruparelia
(Sriti Ruparelia), whom they accused of breaching the peace and behaving offensively while
soliciting for business in the area.

However, police prosecutor Sergeant Grant Fullarton told the Perth Magistrate's Court
today the application had been withdrawn after a similar application against another prostitute
was refused by a magistrate last month because of a lack of evidence.

Sgt Fullarton said the restraining order was also considered to be less important now
that new prostitution laws had come into effect, giving police greater powers to deal
with street prostitutes.

The laws, which passed through the West Australian parliament in June, allow police
to stop, search and detain suspected street walkers and their clients and also increase
penalties for kerb crawling and street walking.

AAP alm/it/de

KEYWORD: PROSTITUTE

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