English town lives in fear

IPSWICH – The slaying of five prostitutes has cast a shadow over the provincial English town of Ipswich, as police hunted for a suspected serial killer and the town’s women feared they could be next.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair extended condolences to the victims’ families in Parliament. For Britons, the attacks recalled the 1970s, when the so-called Yorkshire Ripper killed 13 women, most of whom were sex workers.The five bodies were found in just 10 days.”We support the police fully in dealing with the horror of this situation and also with the entirely understandable fear there is in the community,” Blair said Wednesday during an address in the House of Commons that prompted a debate over changing policies on prostitution.Some legislators suggested legalising brothels to make work safer for prostitutes.Town authorities organised shuttle services to get women home from the local council offices, and the council’s monthly newsletter was publishing a safety message: “Stick Together” – advising all women in the city to stay off the streets alone.Local businesses also started offering special shuttles to transport female workers.Some offered hand-held alarms.”How is that going to stop someone trying to kill you?” asked Sally Townsend, 55, who works at the local Marks & Spencer store and walks to work each morning in the winter darkness.Once inside the store, she calls her husband to tell him she’s safe.”We live in total fear,” she told The Associated Press.Although all five naked bodies recovered have been prostitutes, townspeople see a general menace threatening the town.A local newspaper ran a headline late Wednesday that read, “Where next?” On Tuesday, one said, “Suffolk Strangler,” referring to one of the victims who was strangled in the county.The victims included a trainee beautician, a mother of three daughters and an insurance worker.Some fell into prostitution to feed drug habits.Nampa-APFor Britons, the attacks recalled the 1970s, when the so-called Yorkshire Ripper killed 13 women, most of whom were sex workers.The five bodies were found in just 10 days.”We support the police fully in dealing with the horror of this situation and also with the entirely understandable fear there is in the community,” Blair said Wednesday during an address in the House of Commons that prompted a debate over changing policies on prostitution.Some legislators suggested legalising brothels to make work safer for prostitutes.Town authorities organised shuttle services to get women home from the local council offices, and the council’s monthly newsletter was publishing a safety message: “Stick Together” – advising all women in the city to stay off the streets alone.Local businesses also started offering special shuttles to transport female workers.Some offered hand-held alarms.”How is that going to stop someone trying to kill you?” asked Sally Townsend, 55, who works at the local Marks & Spencer store and walks to work each morning in the winter darkness.Once inside the store, she calls her husband to tell him she’s safe.”We live in total fear,” she told The Associated Press.Although all five naked bodies recovered have been prostitutes, townspeople see a general menace threatening the town.A local newspaper ran a headline late Wednesday that read, “Where next?” On Tuesday, one said, “Suffolk Strangler,” referring to one of the victims who was strangled in the county.The victims included a trainee beautician, a mother of three daughters and an insurance worker.Some fell into prostitution to feed drug habits.Nampa-AP