A top Redbridge police officer reassured councillors and residents that prostitution will not spread into other parts of Ilford in the wake of operations in Ilford Lane.

Det Insp John Fish told Redbridge Council’s area committee seven that officers had stepped up efforts around Loxford after the murder of a prostitute on Monday.

Speaking at a meeting on Tuesday, he said: “I’m not interested in digging holes in the sea for it to fill back in again.

“I don’t want to play a game of ping pong.

“It has to be in a concentrated area and it can’t be displaced anywhere else in Redbridge.”

Some councillors were concerned that York Road would become the next hotspot for kerb-crawling, drug dealing and other illegal activities.

But Cllr Shoaib Patel, cabinet member for environment, transport and crime, said Redbridge was a “low crime borough” overall.

He added: “There are incidents like this which exacerbate fears but the police and council are working extremely hard to keep Redbridge a safe place.”