Street prostitution strategy praised

IPSWICH: Efforts to eliminate street prostitution from Ipswich have been given the stamp of approval by the government's Audit Commission.

In its first assessment of public services in Suffolk, it has praised the moves to tackle street prostitution in Ipswich, which has almost eliminated the problem since serial killer Steve Wright's reign of terror three years ago.

The strategy was helped by �9,000 raised by Star readers through the Somebody's Daughter appeal.

The report, published today, said the action by the police, the borough and county councils, and the Iceni Project has helped ensure Ipswich is unlikely to see the problem return.

It says that of the 25 street workers at the time of the murders, 23 have now gone on to make better lives for themselves - and a total of 120 other women have been helped by the strategy.

Borough leader Liz Harsant was delighted that the strategy had been singled out for praise.

She said: “We did put a great deal of effort into this and it has been scrutinised at every point so it is good to know that the work has been recognised like this.

“I know the residents of the area that had been affected by street prostitution are delighted by the change over recent years and it is important that the work with those who are vulnerable to this continues.”

The report also points out that Suffolk remains one of the safest counties in the country - although more efforts should be targeted at the most deprived areas of Ipswich which see the highest crime rate.

It also gives Suffolk three green flags - for issues that should be a beacon for other councils - and two red flags for issues that need to be addressed.

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