IPSWICH today has a prostitution strategy after both county and borough leaders approved moves to bring it to fruition.Ipswich Borough Council's executive committee and Suffolk County Council's cabinet held separate meetings to discuss the policy which aims to rid Ipswich of street prostitution.

IPSWICH today has a prostitution strategy after both county and borough leaders approved moves to bring it to fruition.

Ipswich Borough Council's executive committee and Suffolk County Council's cabinet held separate meetings to discuss the policy which aims to rid Ipswich of street prostitution.

The county council's meeting agreed to stump up £400,000 towards the cost of the proposals over the next two years.

The strategy, which was unveiled last month, proposes a tougher stance on kerb crawlers and a major focus on helping prostitutes off the streets.

It has been launched in the wake of the killings of Tania Nicol, 19, Gemma Adams, 25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29.

The indicative cost of the scheme so far is £865,000 which includes £300,000 towards a multi-agency team who will help generate routes out of prostitution for those on the streets.

Another £265,000 will be needed to meet the policing bill and a further £65,000 for automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology which helps monitor vehicles accessing the area.

According to Suffolk County Council, £300,000 will be needed to improve environmental features such as street lighting and gating alleyways.

Their report said that money is likely to require expenditure from Ipswich Borough Council but the county council may also be required to provide extra costs.