A DRUG rehabilitation centre has been praised for its efforts in reducing street prostitution in Ipswich during a fact-finding tour by the Conservatives.

A DRUG rehabilitation centre has been praised for its efforts in reducing street prostitution in Ipswich during a fact-finding tour by the Conservatives.

Caroline Spelman, the Tory party chairman, and Ben Gummer, prospective candidate for the town, toured the Iceni Project.

The pair were accompanied to the Fore Street centre by Liz Harsant, leader of the borough council.

Together with its partners the Iceni Project has helped to reduce the number of women working the streets in Ipswich.

Mr Gummer said: “The Iceni Project is a fantastic example of best practice collaboration between police, local councils and voluntary organisations. It is exactly the sort of scheme that we need to see rolled out across the country.”

Brian Tobin, director of the Iceni Project, said the visit had been “worthwhile”.

“We're a non-political organisation but we are obviously keen to hear the views of all parties on how they see drug rehabilitation in the future,” he said.