CONVICTED kerb crawlers could be forced to attend atonement classes by courts in the region.

Just as courts and police in other parts of the country offer drink-drivers 16-hour courses aimed at stopping re-offending, the Home Office will be asked to back the idea of court-enforced courses where kerb crawlers are educated in the realities of life for prostitutes.

Wendy Shepherd, the children's service manager with the Barnardo's Secos project to help children working as prostitutes in Middlesbrough, said: "It is simple to go into court and get fined. It is harder to spend a day finding out the effects.

"At the moment, a kerb crawler sends a letter to the magistrates saying 'I am very sorry, I will not do it again'. He gets a fine and nothing else.

"We need to sit down and think through their behaviour."

"It is something we would like to develop. I think even if we cannot reach everybody, I am quite certain we will get through to some,'' added Mrs Shepherd, whose idea last night won the backing of a leading criminologist.

Professor Gillian Radford, who lectures at Teesside University, in Middlesbrough, said: "I think in principle it is an excellent idea.

"I think many of the punters -kerb crawlers -may not fully understand the lives of the women they are seeking.

"They may not understand how some are trafficked into the country and held in conditions little better than slavery. It could be a learning experience.

"I am sure at the university we would be well up to working with Secos in working on such a programme.''

Prof Radford said such a course should be made the condition of a probation order, with the threat of an offender being brought back to court if they miss a session.

A spokeswoman for the Magistrates' Association, said: "Anything that helps prevent re-offending is worthwhile looking at."

Police said they would welcome any initiative that would help fight kerb crawling and prostitution in the area.