BRITAIN:A police chief yesterday warned women to stay away from Ipswich's red-light district as fears rose that a serial killer was targeting prostitutes. Detectives in Suffolk said two prostitutes had been murdered, another found dead and two were missing.
Jacqui Cheer, assistant chief constable of Suffolk, said prostitutes alone on the streets of Ipswich were "in danger". Mrs Cheer directed a message to prostitutes in the area: "My message to you is simple - stay off the streets," she said. "If you are out alone at night, you are putting yourself in danger."
Gemma Adams (25), from Ipswich, vanished in the early hours of November 15th. Her naked body was found in a stream at nearby Hintlesham on December 2nd. Tania Nicol (19), also from Ipswich, disappeared on October 30th. Her naked body was found in a pond at nearby Copdock on December 8th.
A third prostitute, a woman in her 20s not yet named by police, was found dead in a wood at nearby Nacton yesterday. She was also naked. But detectives said they were not linking the death of a woman found in a river near Crowland, Lincolnshire, at the weekend to their inquiry.
Det Chief Supt Stewart Gull, who is heading the inquiry, said police might be looking for a serial killer. "It is possible," he said. "We are keeping an open mind." Police said they were also worried about Paula Clennell (24) who has not been seen since late on Saturday, and Annette Nicholls (29) who has not been seen since December 4th.
Mr Gull said Ms Clennell had spoken to a friend late on Sunday but had not been seen since or made contact with police. "Both of these girls were reported missing as a result of the inquiry - there could be an innocent explanation," he said.
"However, in the current climate we are concerned for their welfare and are making urgent inquiries to contact them." Police yesterday moved the body found at Nacton from woodland where it was spotted by a motorist.
Mr Gull said the discovery of the third body was a "deeply disturbing development". "While we can't formally link the discovery of the body at Nacton with the two murders, the facts speak for themselves," he said.
"At this stage we don't know how long the body may have been at that location." He added: "Clearly there are some distinct similarities. We have already linked the death of Tania and Gemma - clearly there are significant similarities in the finding of this latest woman."
Police have not yet named the third dead woman, but Mr Gull said she had worked as a prostitute in Ipswich and was thought to be 24.
Mr Gull said more than 100 officers were involved in what is probably the biggest murder investigation seen in Suffolk.
He said detectives were following a large number of leads. No one has been arrested, he said.
Detectives said neither Ms Adams nor Ms Nicol had been sexually assaulted. They have not revealed how the women died but said they were waiting for the results of postmortem tests.
Police say they will turn a blind eye to offences relating to prostitution. "We are talking to prostitutes and they are giving us names of their clients," said Mrs Cheer. "But I think there are a group of prostitutes we have not yet reached.
"I would urge anyone with information that might help us to come forward. Our priority is to find the person or people responsible for the deaths."
Mrs Cheer said both prostitutes and their clients might have valuable information.
One prostitute said she was "terrified". Others were said to be carrying rape alarms and bricks in their bags. "I've got a rape alarm. I've got a brick in my bag so if anybody starts on me I can smack them," one told reporters.
"What else can we do?" - (PA)