IN A Daily Echo of last week there was a report on action taken by my friend Councillor Chris Wakefield who has requested several local charities to assist with the increasing problem of prostitution in Boscombe.

The interesting article was written by well known reporter Jane Reader, who fifteen years ago wrote a similar story about the request by Boscombe West councillor Harry Cutler MBE and myself also a Boscombe West Councillor for the need of safe houses for the young ladies of the streets.

Most folk forget that as a result of domestic problems including abuse many women are forced to earn money by prostitution in order to maintain a reasonable standard of living for their families. It is then that the ‘pimps’ attract them to drugs and alcohol. So they enter a life of shame.

It was as a Bournemouth and Dorset county councillor many years ago I became aware that this problem was affecting Boscombe.

I became a member of both the County and Bournemouth police prostitution panels in an endeavour to help the situation.

Whilst our wonderful local charities deal with many specific problems in the case of prostitution, after visiting France, Belgium, Holland and other parts of the continent I became aware that ‘Safe Houses’ were the answer to the problem.

Safe houses were firstly situated away from residential areas, had sleeping accommodation, advisors from Health Authorities, Social Services, Legal Authorities, care volunteers, counselling, child care advisers etc, and friendship.

Whilst I applaud the work of Councillor Chris Wakefield and his committee groups, I still believe the answer to prostitution is safe houses. I have seen the success.

Former Mayor Councillor Anne Filer has always pleaded for Safe Houses with other councillors.

It often takes years to get this right, so perhaps the demolition of the Imax will be followed by the development of Safe Houses, a worthy cause!

PHIL CAREY, Former Dorset County and Boscombe West Councillor