A ‘SAFEZONE’ for prostitution in Pill could make the already deprived neighbourhood a “no-go area” or "ghetto", according to residents angry at the proposals.

Gwent Police are considering allowing people to work as prostitutes in a specific area of Pillgwenlly in Newport, away from houses, saying women already sell sex there.

But the suggestion has met an angry reception.

Ann Barton, a florist on Commercial Road, said: “It’s absolutely disgusting. What happened to the law?”

She acknowledged there was a problem with prostitution but said the focus should be on prevention.

“Pill has always had prostitutes but they used to be more discreet”, she said.

“Now you can walk down the street and they will approach your husband while he is with you – they have no shame at all. You can see them standing on the corners in the dark. If you happen to stop the car they run over and think it’s a punter – even if you’re just going to the chip shop. The police and the council do nothing about it.”

Paul Murphy, 42, from residents’ group Pride in Pill, said: “I think it’s stupid. Pill has a bad name as it is and it’s going to get worse. Why can’t they have it somewhere else?”

Newport West MP Paul Flynn, whose constituency takes in Pill, added: “All the discussion has done is create anger, stigmatising one particular area. The police seem to have effectively killed the idea - I think it’s got no chance of being implemented.”

Newport council leader Bob Bright said there had been no consultation with the local authority.

“We are angry and disappointed that we have not received any official communication from senior officers at Gwent. It is a major issue that has upset residents and businesses of Newport.

“As leader of the council I have not been consulted in any way about this nor has any other senior officer at the council.

“If the police had consulted with us, we would have expressed concern as the proposals go against the council’s plans for the regeneration of the Pill area.

“We understand that the proposals are at a very early stage and the council must be consulted. We will be pressing Gwent Police for details, an explanation and information.”

Pam Glover, aged 65, who lives on Adeline Street, said: “I believe that it is a conscious plan by the police to contain all Gwent's lawless elements into the recently formed, and soon to be, official ghetto called Pillgwenlly.

“Where is this non residential area in Pill the Police are planning to turn into a red light zone? In fact, where is a non residential area in Pill?”

But Newport East AM John Griffiths said in principle the idea of safe zones for prostitution could be sound: “It seems to me it’s much better if it’s more controlled. These sorts of areas have a lot to be said for them - but whether such an area should be in Pill or not is a matter for debate.”

The plan is still very much in the “early stages”, police said. Defending the proposed location, they said the small number of prostitutes in Gwent worked mainly in Pill, which already affected local people.

Taking a hardline approach did not seem to work, they said, and they were looking at the approach of a police force in North England.

There are no solid plans to do the same here, they said, but they would consider whether evidence showed it to be effective and if so, potentially copy the scheme after talking to the council and people in Pill.

This would allow support workers to help prostitutes with any problems such as addition, housing and welfare – as well as increase reports of crime against them.

“Local officers and councillors are realistic about the fact that prostitution will always exist and, it has been shown that enforcement alone is not an effective solution”, a police spokesman added.

Police and Crime Commissioner Ian Johnston said: "I want to re-iterate that until we have seen evidence-based results and there has been extensive consultation with residents, businesses and the council nothing will be decided."