ANXIOUS residents in The Haulgh called for a vice crackdown after Carly's murder.
Police chiefs came under pressure from residents to clean up the area once and for all. The once affluent and peaceful area where well-to-families lived in large Victorian properties was now full of bed-sits and home to pimps, prostitutes and dealers.
Following the murder of Carly, it looked as if nothing was being done -- much to the frustration of the householders. This was because the murder squad had asked the local police to leave the area alone while the inquiry was in the early stages.
Detectives needed the co-operation and help of the prostitutes and did not want them to be driven underground.
At the time, the murder inquiry took precedence. Eventually, Operation Resident was launched. It was aimed at cracking down on prostitutes, kerb crawlers and drug dealers in the town.
Since its launch, hundreds of people have been targeted.
Chief Insp Alan Green from Bolton Police said: "Carly's murder was the catalyst for a number of things. There was a real realisation that there was a prostitute problem in the Haulgh area and it was much worse than we thought.
"Residents made their feelings known during a number of heated meetings.
"As a result of Operation Resident, we believe we reduced the problem but by no means, have we got rid of it.
"We now think it is being better managed.
"We are also better at sharing information around child prostitutes and the local authority working hard with some girls to prevent them becoming involved in the kind of lifestyle Carly had." Chief Insp Green said the police and the other agencies were working together to clean up the Haulgh.
"But it is a slow process. More still needs to be done. The bedsit nature at the top end of the Haulgh area is still not satisfactory.
"And a previous undertaking about the relocation of telephone boxes because of their association with these issues has still not been resolved."
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