San Francisco police sending out ‘Dear John’ letters to people captured soliciting prostitution [Video]

The San Francisco Police Department has started sending out “Dear John” letters targeting those who solicit sex in the city, viewing the issue as an economic challenge.

The department is trying to tackle the problem by addressing both the supply side — pimps and sex workers — and the demand side to deter customers from returning.

Residents in  San Francisco’s Mission District have voiced their concerns over the presence of sex workers and patrons for years.

Police have begun the “Dear John” letter program by mailing letters to the homes of those who solicit sex.

Chief Bill Scott of the San Francisco Police Department said, “We’ve sent out dozens of letters already. So, some people have gotten surprises in their mailboxes already.”

The department has released a video explaining how the program works.

San Francisco leverages crime cameras to photograph sex workers, their patrons also known as “Johns”, and notably, the license plates of the patrons’ vehicles. These photos allow police to locate the vehicle owner’s …