Stockholm - The Swedish government Wednesday announced tougher measures to combat prostitution and human trafficking.

The action programme includes tackling the "demand" which fuels the sex trade and human trafficking, Integration and Gender Equality Minister Nyamko Sabuni told reporters.

Sabuni said there was a need to cooperate with neighbouring countries in the Baltic region where many victims of the sex trade were recruited from, and also to help former sex trade workers find other means of supporting themselves.

In the coming two-year period the government is to allocate some 200 million kronor (33.5 million dollars) to the plan.

The 36 measures in the plan range from training staff in the health care system, schools and social services to supporting rehabilitation programmes, preventive measures against drug abuse and international cooperation.

Justice Minister Beatrice Ask said 200 police officers were to be recruited to focus on organized crime, including trafficking "where efforts to gather evidence demand large resources."

Ask said there were "no plans" to change current legislation to allow victims of trafficking or the sex trade to remain in the country.

The Swedish law from 1999 which bans the purchase of sexual favours is being reviewed, Ask said, noting changes in the sex trade.

Although street prostitution has decreased noticeably in cities like Stockholm and Gothenburg, prostitution has not disappeared. Police raid underground brothels from time to time. Prostitutes are linked up with clients via the internet, telephone or word of mouth.

Sabuni noted that it was hard to pinpoint how many people were engaged in prostitution or were victims of human trafficking. (dpa)