Police stopped nine kerb-crawlers at the weekend and issued cautions to 23 prostitutes during a crackdown in Ilford.

Officers held a two-day operation in the Redbridge’s Loxford ward, focusing on Ilford Lane, Ilford, in plain clothes and uniform.

The nine kerb-crawlers received anti-social behaviour contracts and six prohibition notices were also issued.

There was also an arrest for drink-driving.

Safer Neighbourhood officers based in the south of the borough were acting as part of the Met-wide Operation Condor, which investigates unlicensed premises.

Prostitutes in Ilford could be forced to move on if Redbridge Council is successful in putting together a dispersal zone application.

Sgt Douglas Fyfe, of the Loxford Safer Neighbourhood team, said: “This is part of an ongoing programme to directly tackle prostitution and kerb crawling in Loxford ward.

“We are currently working in partnership with colleagues from a number of departments at the council to deal with the offenders from a variety of different angles and to resolve the problems being caused on the ward”.