Learning compassion after Ipswich murders
 Learning the lessons of compassion from the recent murder of five prostitutes in Ipswich, the National Christian Alliance on Prostitution has launched a new church resources pack to tackle surrounding issues.
The move has been welcomed by Ipswich vicar Rev Andrew Dotchin and Norwich-based trustee of NCAP Theresa Cumbers, who helped launch the city’s own Magdalene Group to help prostitutes find a way out of life on the streets.
NCAP director Mark Wakeling said: “The Breaking the Chains church resource pack provides an overview of some of the main issues surrounding prostitution as well as practical steps for offering support to those who are caught up in this evil trade.
“Breaking the Chains is a new resource containing facts, background information, case studies and materials which can be used in home groups and other small group settings. It also contains practical suggestions for church involvement on numerous levels.”
The Rev Andrew Dotchin, vicar of the central Ipswich parish of Whitton said: “During the dark days of December 2006, Ipswich responded to the death of five young women in ways which where unexpected by the probing lens of the world's media. Instead of the usual condemnation, which is often heard when those who are involved in the sex industry are brutalised and murdered, the town responded with loving compassion and care.
“A great part of the reason for this is that Ipswich is a small community, the number of people (both women and men) regularly working on the streets is often in single figures, and many in the town knew the stories of five gentle women who have come to be known in Ipswich as 'Somebody's Daughter'.
“Learning from the response of the people of Ipswich, this information and discussion pack reminds us that they are real people - somebody's daughter - in the middle of Britain's sex industry and sets out to listen to these stories in a sympathetic way which suspends any action until all the facts are known.”
 NCAP trustee Theresa Cumbers (right) said: "This is an excellent resource pack for churches and other organisations which provides practical help and information. Feedback has already been very positive."
Buying sex involves exploitation and the estimated age of girls involved in prostitution in the UK is as young as 13 years old. They experience violence and abuse on a daily basis. And the number of men buying sex in the UK has doubled in the past few years.
NCAP, the National Christian Alliance on Prostitution, unites and equips church groups and other organisations working with people involved in or exploited by the sex industry.
For more information contact NCAP on Tel: 0845 0044231
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