PEOPLE in a neighbourhood battling to drive out street prostitutes claim to be winning.

Every night a seven-strong team of residents, called Street Watch, patrol a series of areas in Swindon town centre, recording information about kerb crawlers and prostitutes.

The Street Watch beat includes Broad Street, Manchester Road and Station Road.

Group members believe their close cooperation with the Police and Swindon Council's Crime and Disorder Team is helping to crack down on the problem.

Street Watch member Matt McCue, 51, said: "There is a definite improvement since we decided to take our non-confrontational action. Our aim is to improve the quality of life for the community at large, not just residents. We walk the streets for three and a half hours every single night and our presence is proving a deterrent."

The situation has also improved since court injunctions for anti social behaviour were granted in January, banning certain named prostitutes from entering the area between 6pm and 6am. So far there are five injunctions in place but more are currently being processed.

Mr McCue said: "The injunctions are also effective, with one exception. But this individual will be reprimanded, so at last the law seems to be clamping down on this anti-social behaviour." But a Swindon charity that helps socially excluded people claims the problem is simply being shifted elsewhere.

Pauline Barnes, project manager at Stepping Forward, said: "My personal feeling is that the orders have not worked because prostitutes are still in the vicinity. They have just moved from one end of the street to the other. The orders do not tackle the root of the problem."

For many years prostitutes have plagued the area, bringing with them drugs, disorder and kerb crawlers.

Leslie Horn, 83, chairman of Broad Street Community Council, has been campaigning for nearly 20 years to combat the problem.

He said: "I have been a resident here for more than 40 years and the area has greatly improved over the past 18 months.

"You will never get rid of prostitutes completely, but our residents deserve better. Old people have become prisoners in their own homes because of prostitutes being abusive. But at last they are starting to avoid the area."

Coun John Taylor (Lab, Central) is also encouraged by the joint action.

He said: "We are pleased but not complacent with the results of Street Watch and the police working together. It has been a long battle and there is no quick fix. This is part of a broader campaign to improve the community environment."

Coun Taylor claims there were 23 regular street prostitutes using the area two years ago. But he says that since the launch of Street Watch last year and the recent court injunctions this figure has more than halved.

He added: "There is light at the end of the tunnel but we still have a long way to go."

Swindon Police are equally determined to continue tackling the problem.

Besides relying on information from residents, they also carry out covert and overt patrols.

Inspector David Mc Mullin said: "We are achieving some success and this would not be possible without community involvement.

"This campaign is ongoing and we take a varied approach. So far the results are encouraging."