KERBCRAWLERS in Bradford are being sent on awareness courses, instead of going to court, in a pioneering bid to tackle prostitution.

Fifty people have been on the course so far and another 25 are waiting to go on it, the city's police have revealed.

The scheme, which could be the first in the country, has so far had a 100 per cent success rate, with not a single man who has taken part in the course coming to the attention of police since.

Change Course was brought in last year, giving those arrested for kerbcrawling the choice of going on the course rather than being prosecuted at court. Offenders have to pay for the course, where they meet local residents to learn at first hand the impact their behaviour has on the community.

Detective Inspector Ian Bryar, of Bradford District CID, said it was similar to speed awareness courses for drivers.

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He said: "The course delivers a message to the offender about the impact on the community and the women themselves. It is part of the rehabilitation process and it has worked."

He said Bradford was unique and he did not know of anywhere else in the UK using the course.

Det Insp Bryar said: "Fifty kerbcrawlers have been on the course so far, with a further 25 waiting to go on it, and none of them have come to the attention of police since. It is a valuable exercise and they seem to be learning their lesson."

He said more than 90 per cent of offenders were choosing to go on the course, rather than having a criminal conviction for kerbcrawling.

"Nobody wants that public stigma," he added.

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It is one of the ploys being used by police, working with Bradford Council and women's support groups, to tackle the issue of street prostitution, which appears to have reduced in Bradford's red light area in the past year.

Two years ago there were fears of vigilante action with groups of young men seen walking the streets to deter prostitution and concerns from residents about the effect on their environment, the impact on their children, and connected crime and drug use.

Police, probation and the Council launched a joint operation, which saw more than 50 arrests, including 28 for street prostitution, eight brothels raided, and over 50 Anti-Social Behaviour Contracts issued to kerbcrawlers.

Det Insp Bryar said enforcement action worked in tandem with measures to protect the welfare of the women involved in street prostitution, and multi agency meetings were held regularly to discuss individuals or cases.

He added: "In the last few months we have increased our team from four to six. We consider this issue one of our priorities."

He said brothels in houses were also part of the sex trade but were a separate issue which could involve human trafficking and organised crime.

Det Insp Bryar added: "We are tackling brothels, looking at criminal organisations behind them and the welfare of the girls who may be forced to work there, and we are looking at closing brothels down."

Business bosses working in the red light area, around Thornton Road and City Road, once stalked by Crossbow Cannibal Stephen Griffiths, agreed they were seeing fewer prostitutes.

Butcher Michael Briggs, 30, of Yorkshire Meat Suppliers, in Worthington Street, said: "It wasn't what you wanted to see, but there are a lot more cameras around now and I think that's helping to bring it down."

Inspector Tom Horner, NPT inspector for the area, said street prostitution had not been eradicated but calls from the public about the problem had greatly reduced.

He said: "It feels like the situation has greatly improved. We used to have petitions and protests, but it's not like that now.

"But we are still working with partners and groups who support women in prostitution to improve the quality of their lives and those of local people.

"If people are finding needles it is obviously a concern, particularly if young children are about, and needs to be reported to us immediately so we can take action."