Lambeth Vice Squad to be reinstated?

12.41.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 22nd Jul 2009

Local Liberal Democrats have welcomed the news, revealed by Lambeth's new Borough Police Commander Chief Superintendent Nick Ephgrave, that he is considering reinstating Lambeth Police's Vice Squad.

In answer to a question from Liberal Democrat Councillor Roger Giess at last Wednesday's Council meeting new Borough Commander Nick Ephgrave said that he would like to reinstate the Vice Squad (subject to finding the resources). Lambeth Police's Vice Squad was controversially scrapped by previous Borough Police Commander Sharon Rowe in April 2008. This led to an upsurge in problems caused by on street prostitution and kerb crawling in areas around Tooting Bec Common and Josephine Ave in Brixton as Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams struggled to cope.

Streatham Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson Chris Nicholson who campaigned with local residents to reinstate the Vice Squad commented, "This is very good news, which I know will be welcomed by local people. I am pleased that the new Borough Commander has recognised that the police Safer Neighbourhood Teams are just not equipped to do the job of tackling on street prostitution and kerb crawling properly."