A scheme that has dramatically reduced the number of women working as prostitutes in Medway has won a national prize.
Medway Police’s Safe Exit team came first in the Diversity in Action category of awards run by Jane’s Police Review, an independent police magazine.
Officers based at Medway Police station were presented the gong by Home Secretary Theresa May on Thursday night.
The team was set up in August 2009 to tackle street prostitution and kerb-crawling in the Towns.
The number of women known to be working as street prostitutes in Medway felling from more than 100 when the project started, to fewer than 20 now.
Safe Exit aims to change prostitutes’ lives by giving those arrested drug treatments and support in housing, education and training.
As well as the women involved, the project aims to change the behaviour of their clients with education courses for those caught kerb-crawling.

Chief Supt Steve Corbishley (pictured above), Medway Police area commander, said: “To be chosen for this award was a real honour and we are extremely proud.
“The award is testament to the hard work and dedication, which has been put in by the team over the past year.
“We have seen some real success stories over the last year and residents have also commented on how much reduction they have seen in the amount of anti-social behaviour that is associated with prostitution.”
Last month, Safe Exit won Team of the Year at the Safer Kent awards.