Bradford prostitutes are being fast-tracked into same-day help for problems with Drugs, housing and benefits following the charging of a man with three murders of vice girls.

Police, council officials and health and voluntary workers are working together to provide urgent services for the working women in a bid to break their cycle of drug and alcohol addiction and prostitution.

Moira Wilson, director of adult and community services for Bradford Council, said: “We want to work together, as a multi-agency partnership, to make sure we have support services available for vulnerable women working as prostitutes. We want to encourage those women to take up the services and support, which will be available for as long as is needed.” Extra support workers have been drafted in to cope with increased contact with prostitutes as a result of fear on the streets.

Val Balding, the Safer Communities Officer for Bradford Council, said that Prostitution Referral Orders, made by the courts under new legislation, were also being used. These give agencies the power to force vice girls to engage with them. Curfews can be enforced but there is also a positive support package, similar to the Drugs Intervention Programme.

She said: “We have increased the level of support and there have been some real success stories. These are different women with different issues. Their support packages will be tailored to their individual needs, but there are general issues that crop up, like drugs, housing and benefits.”

Women with drug-related health problems can also get rapid access to NHS staff. Liz Barry, commissioning manager for substance misuse with NHS Bradford and Airedale, said they were trying to get prostitutes to leave the sex industry permanently.

Superintendent Angela Williams, in charge of policing around the city centre, said Bradford South’s vice team had a two-tier engage and enforce strategy.

“Their initial role, with partner agencies, is to prevent and deter these women from working. If that doesn’t work the police have to step up to an enforcement role.”

She said officers had contacted police in Ipswich, where serial killer Stephen Wright murdered five prostitutes, who had since adopted a zero tolerance policy to street prostitution.

Women who have drug or alcohol problems can contact a confidential helpline on 0845 050 8465.