Cash for prostitute action plan

The deaths of Ipswich woman raised concerns over prostitution

A strategy aimed at removing prostitutes from the streets of Ipswich could be backed by a county council grant of up to £400,000 over two years.

Suffolk County councillors will examine the proposals next week.

The plan was put forward by a coalition of anti-crime groups in the town after the deaths last year of five woman who worked as prostitutes in Ipswich.

The scheme will see women who work the streets offered support in tackling drug addictions.

It will also see a crackdown on kerb crawlers.

A meeting of the county council's cabinet committee on Tuesday will be asked to support up to £200,000 of funding per year for two years.

The key objectives of the Prostitution Strategy are:

To identify the problem and understand the impact of prostitution on the local community

To help support woman who want to leave street prostitution

Remove the demand for prostitutes on the streets of the town

Other funding for the project will come from Ipswich Borough Council and social support groups.