GOOD progress has been made to tackle street prostitution with the number of sex workers falling from 35 last year to just two or three, it has emerged today.

GOOD progress has been made to tackle street prostitution with the number of sex workers falling from 35 last year to just two or three, it has emerged today.

The partners involved in Ipswich's five-year prostitution strategy, which is part-funded by Suffolk County Council, have today given an update on its progress so far.

Hannah-Jo Besley, chair of the Ipswich Prostitute Steering Group, explained that those involved in the strategy had been taking a holistic approach to addressing the issue and said there is now a clearer understanding of the impact of the sex trade on local residents.

It was also announced that the number of sex workers has gone from 35 to just two or three at most. Since March, 115 men have been arrested for kerb crawling.

Superintendent Alan Caton, of Suffolk Police, said: “I am very happy with the support we have been getting from the courts.

“We have been working with magistrates as well to ensure that this work continues.”

As well as targeting the men who create the demand for the street sex industry, a coalition of authorities, which includes the police, health service and local councils, is working to help sex workers beat their drug addictions and build lives away from prostitution.

The strategy was drawn up following the killings of Ipswich sex workers Tania Nicol, Paula Clennell, Anneli Alderton, Annette Nicholls and Gemma Adams last year.