Police arrest 182 kerb crawlers

Police in Northamptonshire made 182 arrests for street prostitution and kerb crawling in 2008, figures reveal.

Four out of five people arrested were considered for a specialist course on the wider issues of prostitution, a police spokesman said.

"The course is open to those on a first offence. All have to pay and all the proceeds go to local good causes."

At the end of the course, those on it are required to accept a caution for anti-social behaviour.

"Anyone committing a second offence will be subject to either an ASBO or court proceedings," the spokesman said.

"We now catch fewer than 10 kerb crawlers a month, which shows a huge reduction in demand as our policing has not reduced in any way," he added.