PROSTITUTES plying their trade on Preston's streets claim they will be put at risk if an assault on kerb crawlers by local police continues.

Preston Police last week launched a crackdown on prostitution in the Deepdale and Ribbleton areas of Preston, targeting New Hall Lane and Deepdale Road with their high profile Operation Diversion campaign.

Prostitutes risk prosecution while their clients risk letters or home visits from the police if they are spotted in the area.

But while local residents have welcomed the new initiative, saying something needs to be done to make them feel safe, the hookers say the high profile police operation could put them at risk.

One call-girl, who called herself Lucy and claimed to be 18 although she looked younger, said: "It won't solve the problem, it will just move us on and we will end up splitting up.

"If that happens, we will be at risk because there will be fewer of us in one place and that will makes us easy targets. We look out for each other and know when someone is missing. We will become targets for rapists and robbers."

Preston has become so popular for kerb crawlers that a mobile snack bar has moved into the area to provide refreshments for the prostitutes, who are male as well as female. Some are said to be as young as 14 years old.

Lucy, who says she can earn up to £100 from each 'punter', added: "We don't do this because we want to, it is because we have no choice.

"I can't see what harm we are doing to local residents. They shouldn't interfere."

The police's operation, which involves a 24-hour high profile presence in Preston's red light district and working with local health groups to wean the hookers off prostitution, follows the failure of less-tough stances.

A spokesman for Preston Police said: "The prostitutes should not hesitate in contacting us if they are the victims of crime."

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