A BRADFORD police chief has warned men who use prostitutes that it is not like the film Pretty Woman.

Superintendent Vince Firth, of Bradford District Safeguarding, vowed that officers and their partner agencies would be targeting both street prostitution and brothels as they continue to work together to tackle the problems.

Supt Firth spoke to the Telegraph & Argus after attending the first Bradford Prostitution Strategic Partnership meeting after a spring break.

The meeting, with new chairman Rebecca Trueman, was also attended by Bradford Council city centre manager Jonny Noble and representatives from adult commissioning services which provide specialist services for prostitutes.

Supt Firth said the emphasis in tackling street prostitution would continue to be the Change Course scheme, which gives kerb crawlers the option of going on awareness courses.

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With more than 50 people already having attended the course and 25 waiting to go on it, none have re-offended.

Supt Firth said: "We are targeting men, who use street workers, through a range of measures which include taking them to court, cautions, and Change Course, which we are getting some really good results from. I have been really impressed with the course and it is changing the attitude of some of these men.

"But we have got lots of men who think prostitution is as it is depicted in the film Pretty Woman. It is absolutely nothing like that.

"Most people involved are in a dire state. They are being exploited. They have drug and alcohol dependencies and they may have Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Many are doing it against their will out of desperation. Most of these women are breaking the law, but they are also victims.

"The course is helping people understand these issues, and the harm prostitution causes to communities."

Supt Firth said it was important to remember that young men were also involved in prostitution and needed support.

And with regards to brothel keeping, he said the focus was on the people making money out of prostitution.

He added: "Our main objective is to stop it, bring the pimps to justice, and safeguard the people working in that industry.

"We are very proactive in searching websites and looking for places where prostitution is taking place. We are always mindful that people are being kept there against their will."

Supt Firth emphasised that the partnership was working hard together to safeguard those getting out of prostitution, on the effects on users and abusers, and the harm to neighbours.

Rebecca Trueman, the Safer Communities delivery co-ordinator, said the Partnership would be looking at a new action plan, but continuing the good work the it had had done for many years.