Historically, the kerb crawl has been a subject of debate, both in and out of the law courts.

Kerb Crawling

Specifically, the legality of street prostitution in the UK has been a matter of public debate. This has led to a proliferation of legislation to address the topic. In 2009 the Policing and Crime Act (PAC) was passed to improve the handling of kerb crawling. In addition to this tidbit of information, the government also launched a focused marketing campaign aimed at curbing the practice.

The tidbit of this debate has been to make kerb crawling an offence. However, this does not necessarily equate to a reduction in the number of offenders. Likewise, there are a myriad ways to deter kerb crawling. For example, the police may contact the owners of the vehicle in question to inquire about the kerb crawling activity. Aside from the physical repercussions, such as a fine or ban on a license, a kerb crawler may also be disqualified from driving, depending on the severity of the crime. Moreover, the city of Leeds, in Yorkshire, has introduced a Kerb Crawler Rehabilitation scheme. The scheme has been praised by politicians and activists alike. The scheme is a multi-agency initiative involving the police, the council, local authorities and the private sector. It is estimated that the scheme will be rolled out to approximately 50 boroughs in the next two years. In the meantime, the kerb-crawlers can still do their thing, but the plight of the victims remains intact.

The best way to put the kerb-crawlers in their place is by introducing a more coordinated police response to this problem. This includes the implementation of a more effective intelligence elicitor scheme and the creation of a crime database to collate relevant data about the kerb-crawlers.