WOMEN selling sex in Newport are being offered the chance to get out of prostitution in a new campaign, police say.

A recent report said that a small amount of prostitution has developed in the city centre.

Chief Inspector Dave Johnson said he did not view the incidence as a significant problem but added it would be "nave" to assume it would not become one.

He said: "What you see in other parts of the country is organised criminal gangs exploiting the market and exploiting young people or immigrants. We need to make sure that doesn't happen here.

"As there are only a few women we know about we are targeting individuals.

"We are approaching the problem in Newport by working with partners, offering support and assistance to women working as prostitutes.

"We take the approach that these women are victims. Many of the women working as on-street prostitutes are dependent on Class A drugs and are very vulnerable. Once they are into that sort of a lifestyle, it is very difficult to get out."

Police are working with women's aid groups, social services and the health authority to tackle the problem.

During Operation Barbara, which took place earlier this year over a period of two months, nine cautions were handed out to women. One woman was arrested and bailed.

Chief Insp Johnson said: "We don't have any places in Newport where women are walking the streets, and we don't want to get to that position. "At this stage, what is important for me is that we restrict the opportunities for prostitution to flourish in our city."

Chief Insp Johnson said it was Newport's increasing growth as a city that meant problems such as this had to be tackled with increasing intensity.

"We are a growing city, and along with all the positive things that come with this there is also the potential for rising crime," he said.

The problem in Newport has developed slightly over the past couple of the years, but there are still only about a dozen individuals the police are working to try and encourage them into alternative lifestyles.