Children can now play on the streets of Broadgreen without fear after a police blitz cleared prostitutes from the area, according to one resident.

But Karen Leakey warned that, despite the success, the police presence was still needed and it should not be cut back to meet the force’s budget pressures.

Karen, the chairwoman of Broadgreen Community Forum, said the community was concerned that Wiltshire Police might cut the area’s vice liaison officer’s role to save money.

“Our main concern is that although this difference is happening they might still be cutting funds and we are really worried that if we lose the vice liaison officer it would go back to how it used to be. That would be a disaster.”

The streets of Broadgreen are now almost clear of prostitutes following a three-year police blitz.

Operation Dobbin has seen the number of prostitutes go from 42 in October 2008 to just three who work the streets now.

Karen said the people living in the area used to have to put up with a lot.

“Back in 2000 it was awful,” she said. “We had between 40 to 50 girls walking the streets and a lot of drug dealing going on quite openly.

“Many people were too afraid to go out and their quality of life diminished. It affected everybody.

“As you get older you do get quite concerned about things and there is a real fear of crime.

“Men and women and even young people were being accosted by kerb crawlers.

“There were men just walking down to the shops and the prostitutes were following them – it was quite embarrassing for them to be seen to be followed.

“Children weren’t able to play outside.”

Karen said at one point there was a car going past her normally quiet street every three seconds.

But even worse was the detritus left on the streets that Mrs Leakey and other residents sometimes resorted to clearing up themselves.

“We would find women’s underwear and used condoms everywhere as well as needles,” she said.

“Some of the girls would just urinate in the alleyways and there were times they defecated there too.

“One chap and I cleared two alleyways and filled up two large cat litter trays with condoms, needles and pants. It wasn’t pleasant.”

Things started to change after Mrs Leaky invited Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett, of Swindon Police, to attend a residents’ meeting.

He listened to their concerns and vice liaison officer PC Sophia McIntyre was appointed to work with the prostitutes to get them off the street.

Karen said: “Things have changed hugely. People go out now and nobody seems afraid of being accosted by a prostitute.

“There’s only been one person complain in the last few months.

“There are a couple of persistent girls out there but I know police are trying to crack down on them.

“It’s been a really good partnership working in the community.