Action to end street prostitution

A strategy aimed at removing prostitutes from the streets of a Suffolk town has been unveiled by police and social services.

The scheme will see women who work the streets of Ipswich offered support in tackling drug addictions, while kerb crawlers will face police action.

The move follows the deaths of five prostitutes in Ipswich last year.

One sex worker, Katie, welcomed the initiative but said the women needed to have alternative ways to earn money.

Zero tolerance

The group aimed at tackling the issue - police, local authorities and other concerned organisations - launched a joint initiative on Wednesday.

Women who work the streets have been promised that rather than facing arrest and court action, efforts will be made to find out how to help them beat drugs and homelessness.

Police will also take a zero-tolerance approach to kerb crawling and anyone seen will be photographed by CCTV.

Katie said of the street prostitutes: "We need to consider that if they are going to be off the beat, they are going to need to do something to gain their money.

"They may turn to robbing houses, robbing shops, all sorts of things."