A team of officers from the Metropolitan Police has been set up to crack down on kerb crawling in Upper Edmonton.

The dedicated team of one sergeant and six officers will work with Enfield Council partners to engage with sex workers and target those who exploit and control them.

Working day and night, the Met Police team will aim to reduce the number of persistent workers and kerb crawlers who frequent the area, along with targeting associated addresses.

Women involved in the sex industry will be offered the services of an independent sex worker advisor and other referral facilities.

It comes after residents called for action to tackle the long-running problem.

Inspector Erica Crawshaw, from the North Area Basic Command Unit, said the team would not be able to offer a “quick fix” but would use strategies designed to work over the long term.

Inspector Crawshaw added: “We will be using powers and legislation available to us. With the assistance of the Met’s modern slavery team and various outreach services, we will support women who choose to exit out of the sex trade.

“Our aim is to engage with the women and target those who exploit and control them rather than tackle it with enforcement. We will not tolerate those who come to or from within the area who proposition females and solicit them for the purpose of prostitution. Our long-term plan is for local residents to live in an area that they can be proud of.”

Enfield Council’s cabinet member for community safety and cohesion Cllr Nneka Keazor (Labour, Southbury) said: “Enfield Council has done a tremendous amount of work in partnership with the police and the voluntary sector to tackle prostitution and its root causes in Edmonton.

“We welcome the addition of a dedicated police team to help deal with this issue and look forward to working with them to reduce crime and disorder associated with prostitution and also improve the quality of lives for residents who are forced to witness this unwelcome and anti-social activity on their doorsteps.”