Residents say Cowley Road is still awash with prostitutes and drug pushers - despite police claiming there is "no significant" problem in east Oxford.

Last year, police introduced a register of prostitutes. Those caught soliciting twice within 12 months are put on the list and if caught a third time are arrested and charged.

There are five prostitutes on the list.

But senior Oxford city councillor Sabir-Hussain Mirza, who lives in the area, said women continue to offer their services at night on Cowley Road while drug dealers ply their trade in neighbourhoods where young families live.

He said: "I have lived in the Cowley area since 1971 and on every street and corner I have people coming up to me trying to sell drugs.

"I have girls come up to me when I'm parking in Howard Street -- I have been to the police several times about the increasing number of prostitutes.

"They know where they are, where they live, what sort of business they do, it really gets on my nerves. People tell me they are concerned."

Last month, Susan Brown, Oxford City Council's executive member for crime and disorder, told the Oxford Mail she thought prostitution was not a big enough problem in the city to warrant establishing so-called tolerance zones.

The Government announced plans to overhaul existing prostitution laws, which could see brothels legalised and non-residential tolerance zones set up where prostitutes would be able to go about their business away from neighbourhoods.

Changes in legislation would seek to protect prostitutes, while men who tour neighbourhoods for sex could be publicly named and shamed in the courts.

Supt Paul Sullivan, Oxford city area commander, said: "In comparison with other cities, Oxford doesn't have any significant problems with prostitution.

"If we were to receive complaints from members of the public about open prostitution on the streets, we would act to resolve the problems.

"We would also clearly act if these activities involved young, potentially exploited and vulnerable individuals."

At a recent Cowley area committee meeting, one officer said fining prostitutes was no deterrent.

Sgt Jim O'Ryan said: "Without specific information we really are fighting a losing battle.

"The law requires us to warn prostitutes twice before we arrest them, then after three times we can take them to court where they are fined £25 -- but a £25 fine doesn't really put them off."

Local resident Sajjad Malik said: "I do not agree with Thames Valley Police. If you go to the bingo hall or Howard Street, there are always a lot of prostitutes.

"People have told me they sit on their walls waiting for business and people are afraid to tell them to move away.

"The police do know where they are."