A LEADING Swindon solicitor says prostitution should be legalised in the town.

Rob Ross, who has previously asked for a debate on the legalisation of Class A Drugs, says it is "absolutely disgraceful" that Swindon Council is wasting public money hounding prostitutes from the streets.

And his views on legalisation are echoed by a member of Street Watch a voluntary body set up to monitor the activity of prostitutes, pimps and men touting for sex in the Broad Street area which is working to bring civil injunctions against several prostitutes in the centre of town.

Mr Ross, 46, said: "You get rid of the problem of prostitution by legalising it just like drugs not by shunting it somewhere else. All that does is displace the problem.

"I think it's absolutely disgraceful that they (Swindon Council) are hounding prostitutes.

"If people want to pay for sex, what's wrong with that? Legalising prostitution would take away the pimp element, fear, the girls would be clean, earn a reasonable wage and pay tax.

"These girls are not hardened criminals and I can't see the point in wasting public money hounding them there are more important things than that.

"I'd hate to think how much money has been wasted hounding prostitutes in the past five years.

"The law doesn't consider it to be very serious and we should worry about real crime. All that is happening at the moment is that prostitutes are being driven from one street and displaced to another."

Prostitution is not punishable by imprisonment, but by a fine or conditional discharge.

The council has failed in efforts to place anti-social behaviour orders on prostitutes, which would see them banned from certain areas for a minimum of two years, but has brought civil injunctions against them. These bans run for one year and breeching them could result in a two-year prison sentence.

Currently the council has five injunctions out against Swindon prostitutes and three have previously been jailed for breeching them.

Mr Ross also said an honest and open debate should be held on the setting up of so-called "comfort zones" where state-registered prostitutes could legally work.

Borough solicitor, Francis Maples, said: "Sometimes in life it's a question of both and any not either or. We have responded to public concern and it's our duty to be concerned about the quality of life in the Broad Street area why should residents be subjected to nuisance on their streets?

"Loitering for prostitution is a criminal offence and no local authority can put itself in the position of condoning a criminal offence, but the comfort zone idea is an interesting concept, which doubtless has pluses and minuses.

"The cost of bringing an injunction is relatively minimal, but the benefit to the public is considerable."

Chairman of Street Watch Matt Mc Cue, of Station Road, thinks legalised brothels should be opened in non-residential areas.

He said: "We do not approve of prostitution but it is a reality of life. It should be legal in places, like trading estates away from residential areas. This would make the business far safer."

Giles Sheldrick