The UK's prostitution laws are set for a shake-up under new government plans. DARREN EVANS looks at what the strategy could mean in Gwent

THEY call it the world's oldest profession and on the the streets of Newport and behind closed doors on its backstreets a handful of women still ply their trade.

There are virtually no prostitutes in Gwent outside the city, and in Newport they are almost exclusively confined to the Pill area.

The number of prostitutes in the city has fallen in recent years, but Gwent Police estimate there are now between 20 and 40 women selling sex in Newport.

Inspector Geraint Evans said: "There are two types of prostitution in Newport - on-street and off-street.

"On-street prostitution is drug-driven; women who are selling themselves to purchase drugs.

"They work in the Pill area in general and are very vulnerable people.

"Off-street isn't generally drug driven, it's done for money.

"We have a strategy where we visit off-street premises with our partnership agencies and find out what's going on there.

"If we find underage people or people who are trafficked or otherwise vulnerable we take action. If not we allow it to run.

"Otherwise we force them out onto the street and that creates even more problems.

"Up until a few months ago when the Met started doing it, we were the only force in the UK taking that approach."

Their approach over the last two years has been to target kerb-crawlers and pimps, while taking a less strict approach to the prostitutes themselves.

Operation Barbie in November targeted off-street prostitution in Pill. Four women were cautioned, two were arrested. Twelve men were given notices for kerb crawling.

It is a similar approach to the one the government put forward last week in its much touted prostitution strategy.

The law could be changed to allow two prostitutes and a maid to work together legally in brothels.

Currently only lone prostitutes can offer sex from houses without breaking the law.

There could also be tougher rules for men who buy sex.

Inspector Evans said: " On-street prostitution has definitely decreased in the two years we've been running our programme. The full aim of the project is to give them an avenue out, and there are women who have left prostitution because of the work we have done with them.

"The new government paper outlines a more understanding approach to the issue and promotes working with other agencies.

"We have been doing a lot of the things in the government's recommendations anyway.

"I'm proud of what we do in regard to prostitution. A lot of people have worked very hard to help the situation in Newport."

One of the agencies working with the police to help women out of prostitution is Women in Need.

Set up in 2004 by Paula Christie, the outreach group, with four volunteers, offers help and support to prostitutes to get them off the game and into education.

Ms Christie said: "We speak with prostitutes on a daily basis. Their health is the top priority for us. We help them access health services and clinics and go out and give them condoms.

"We can refer them to other agencies to help them with whatever support and information they need.

"Anyone who is involved in prostitution is not doing it because they want to. It's out of survival. It's a need. Most of them are very bright, talented individuals who are only there because of money problems.

"A lot of them have got children to feed and this is the only way they can meet the needs of their families.

"A few of them have shown an interest and taken the next step to further education. They may still be involved in prostitution but at least they have taken that step and they know there is light at the end of the tunnel."

Ms Christie supports the new government proposals.

"I think it's a good idea that they can pair up and have that support there. They are quite vulnerable on their own. The most important thing is that they are supported and they are safe.

"Kerb-crawling is still a problem. It still goes on in the Cattle Market area in Pill. Under the new plans they are going to clamp down on that which is good. If a woman gets into a man's car they could be taken anywhere and anything could happen to them."