DORSET’S chief constable Debbie Simpson has backed the Force’s on-going initiative to tackle Boscombe’s sex industry.

Describing the issue as a ‘long-term problem’ without ‘easy off-the-shelf solutions’, Ms Simpson said Operation Planet, which replaced Dorset’s vice unit, was proving an effective strategy.

She said officers are focusing on rehabilitation of street walkers and kerb crawlers to curb the area’s unique on-street problem.

“I know the journey of these women is not an easy one. They come from sometimes difficult back-grounds and very often are heavily into drug use,” she said.

“To actually divert them away from prostitution in order to feed their habit requires other agencies to help us as well.

“These girls have long term issues that need really strong support to overcome, so we will get more failures than successes.

“What I say to my own staff and other agencies is that we must keep going, just one success story is worth it.”

She said Operation Planet officers know the problem very well and are trying different things to tackle it.

Over the final six months of 2012, 12 working women successfully escaped on-street prostitution in Boscombe thanks to drugs rehabilitation and support programmes, while some 150 kerb crawlers were arrested.

She said the latter were also being sent on rehabilitation courses.

Last month the Echo reported on two premises in Christchurch Road exposed as brothels.

Christchurch Road massage parlour Rose Beauty and Body Shop, described by police as a brothel, was refused permission to operate as a beauty salon in April, while an Echo investigation later that month revealed that sexual services were being offered at Atlas House across the road.

Asked whether Dorset Police were content to allow brothels to function if they kept prostitutes off the street, Ms Simpson said: “Some places, such as the Netherlands, have moved on-street prostitution into the brothels.

“But studies there show that they now have more trouble than they’ve ever had, that drug misuse and the sex trade have also increased along with violence.

“What we are trying works but it is a longer term solution. It takes time and resources.”