BRITAIN'S first woman chief constable today called for prostitution to be legalised.

Lancashire's Pauline Clare today spoke out in support of West Yorkshire chief constable Keith Hellawell's call to legalise brothels.

Mr Hellawell said licensed brothels would get prostitutes off the streets, allow health checks and provide an income from tax as well as helping to prevent children becoming involved in the sex industry.

Mrs Clare said: "I really support what he is saying. "It's a fact of life that prostitution has been around for many many years and there is a need for service that they provide.

"I would like to see them regulated in such a way that they operate in a safer way.

"And I would not disagree with anything that Mr Hellawell has said."

Mrs Clare said that the arrest of prostitutes was not a priority for her officers unless they were causing trouble or a nuisance to residents and members of the public.

She added: "Lancashire Constabulary produces its policing plan each year which includes policing priorities and officers concentrate on achieving those priorities.

"One of the priorities is not arresting prostitutes but that does not mean they will be ignored if they are causing problems."

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