Asbos for prostitutes in move to clean up red-light areas

The orders, issues by Leeds magistrates, include conditions that prevent the women from entering Holbeck and New Wortley red-light areas of the city.

Magistrates warned the women that they could face jail if the break the Asbo terms.

On Monday, three women, two aged 24 and one aged 20, received three-year Asbos after police officers and the Council's anti-social behaviour unit offered evidence of the women's work as prostitutes Holbeck and Wortley.

On the same day three other women, aged 38, 42 and 19, received five-year Asbos banning them from areas of Holbeck or Wortley.

A seventh woman, who did not attend court, was given an interim Asbo until her case is heard in April.

The orders are the culmination of the work of neighbourhood policing teams under a special initiative to deal with prostitution issues in the Holbeck and Wortley areas.

Operation Dairy began last year, and during one weekend of action in October more than 50 people were stopped. Seven women were arrested for prostitution offences and nine women agreed to voluntary acceptable behaviour contracts. Seven men also agreed to acceptable behaviour contracts after being stopped for kerb-crawling.

As part of the operation, those arrested were tested for class A drugs, with those who tested positive being referred for treatment.

Women arrested for prostitution who had problems with other issues such as housing or benefits were also offered help.

Inspector Damien Miller of the Holbeck neighbourhood police team said: "Our officers have been working hard to tackle prostitution in the area because local people have told us this should be one of our policing priorities, and over the last year we have carried out a number of successful initiatives and operations to deal with the problem.

"Securing these anti-social behaviour orders is a huge step towards putting a permanent stop to the problems, and we will continue working alongside other agencies to achieve this."