San Francisco police launch new program that will allow people to report sex work with photos
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A new effort by San Francisco police aims to curb illegal sex work by targeting customers, not sex workers.
The Dear John Letters campaign urges civilians to get involved and works partially due to the element of shame.
"There were hundreds of sex workers walking the streets. There were pimps and Johns and the traffic was bumper to bumper," said one resident of the Mission ABC7 News spoke with last year in regards to the prostitution along Capp and Shotwell Streets.
Prostitution problems have plagued certain San Francisco neighborhoods for years and efforts, such as concrete barriers to prevent the activity along Shotwell Street, have failed time and time again.
RELATED: New street barriers aiming to deter sex work causing slew of safety issues in SF neighborhood
"I think they suck, and they're an inconvenience," said another man in ABC7's previous coverage.
Metal barriers were even installed along Capp Street. Not only did they cause confusion and increase illegal parking, but they were eventually run over and destroyed.
As the plight of the neighborhood reached a fever pitch, some even filed a lawsuit against the city for what they saw as inaction.
The Dear John program is a new effort launched several weeks ago by SFPD. It's an effort already being used in dozens of cities across the country, including Oakland and Los Angeles.
A video posted online and released by SFPD Chief Bill Scott explains how the program works. Community members first submit photos of alleged prostitution activity to the SFPD website.
RELATED: SF residents sue city claiming Shotwell St. has turned into latest epicenter of prostitution
Once the photos and information are submitted and reviewed by police, Scott continues to say, "a letter will be sent to the owner of the vehicle with the photograph. We hope this will be a deterrent."
In a sample letter, provided by SFPD, recipients are reminded how solicitation is illegal and why it's harmful to the sex worker and the city. A photograph may also be attached, which may serve another purpose.
"Receiving a Dear John letter may cause some uncomfortable moments at home," says Scott in the video.
SFPD tells ABC7 News that since the program soft-launched a few weeks ago, several dozen letters have been sent out. One of the city's new Live View Technology cameras along Shotwell Street is also being credited for helping with the crackdown.
