A RETIRED police inspector has hit out at the force for "disgracefully allowing" prostitutes to tout for business in the afternoon near schools.

Harry Bretherton, of Revidge Road, Blackburn, said that in the past senior officers would never have allowed the situation to continue.

And he joined residents and shopkeepers in demanding that action is taking to prevent prostitutes operating in Bank Top, which has traditionally been the town's red light district.

Today police said they were working to deal with the town's prostitution problem with other agencies but it would not be solved overnight.

Mr Bretherton, who retired in 1998 at the age of 49 after spending much of his career in Darwen and Rawtenstall, made his feelings clear about the situation affecting Bank Top and Griffin in an open letter to Chief Constable Paul Stephenson, sent to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Mr Bretherton said: "As a retired colleague and someone that knows you the chief constable quite well, I would like to ask you the following question:

"What do you and your senior officers in Eastern Division intend to do about the disgraceful situation that has been allowed to exist in the Bank Top/Griffin areas of Blackburn?

"I refer, of course, to prostitution.

"I appreciate that Blackburn is no different to any other town or city in the country.

"However, I respectfully suggest there is a difference between prostitution taking place on Friday and Saturday nights in darkened town centre streets and the present situation in this area where teams of young women are openly plying their trade along a main road at 4pm in a residential area with nearby schools.

"As an ex-officer, I also know that the police do not dictate the morals of society. However, they do influence them through the enforcement of legislation.

"I also know that senior officers of years gone by would have been aghast and shocked to witness this situation and would have done something about it."

Insp Stuart Bruce said police were dealing with long-term solutions, such as giving rehabilitative treatment to the prostitutes, rather than short-term, knee-jerk policies.

He added: "I'm aware of Mr Bretherton's comments but I don't think they add to the debate.

"We are continuing our work to try to find a solution for the benefit of residents and shop keepers, without displacing prostitutes to another area.

"This means working with other agencies, such as health, education and social services, on the problems.

"There are many reasons why girls becomes prostitutes. It's not a career choice."

Last month, Coun Andy Kay, Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member for regeneration and head of the town's community safety partnership, said a legalised brothel was the only way to stop on-street prostitution. He was speaking after Bank Top residents and shopkeepers called for tough action to drive out the problem.