POLICE have said a new initiative to get prostitutes off the street and on courses was a ‘work in progress’ after a woman was brought before court.

Officers in the Bank Top area have been issuing street sex workers and kerb crawlers with conditional cautions to attend educational sessions to change their behaviour.

But after a prostitute was arrested for a second time - despite already taking part in a course - Sergeant Kevin Jones said it was an ongoing project.

Michelle Jeal, 35, of Cherry Lodge, Islington, was given a conditional discharge for six months by Blackburn magistrates after pleading guilty to soliciting for the purpose of prostitution.

The court heard Jeal had beaten a heroin habit but was still fighting an addiction to cocaine. She was waiting for a place to come available at a rehab unit.

Two men who had approached her on Harrison Street on November 11, before driving her to Preston New Road, were also arrested by plain clothed police officers and were given conditional cautions.

They are now amongst several other men awaiting the next course in January.

Sgt Jones said: “The courts are totally independent and decide what penalty.

“Prostitution is not an imprisonable offence and our wish is for them to be given these conditional cautions.

“But Michelle has already had that and she now only gets one more chance. If she’s arrested again for soliciting we will go to the courts and seek a form of ASBO with stringent conditions.

“I think in fairness the girls were always going to be the tough nut to crack. They have long-term substance issues and it would be quite naive for me to turn up with a new idea to solve all their woes.

“But I’m yet to have the same man arrested twice. It’s a success with them men and a work in progress with the girls.”

The three-year strategy proposes to offer education instead of criminal charges to crackdown on prostitution in the town, particularly in the Bank Top area It aims to bring kerb crawlers face to face with the misery that prostitution brings for the prostitutes themselves and the community.

People caught kerb crawling are offered a conditional caution, meaning they won’t face charges if they pay £75 to attend an educational three-hour course.

The course will deal with the dangers of prostitution, the law, the impact of their behaviour on the community, health risks and what happens if they re-offend.