10 men arrested in sting
'Prostitution sweep' in Abby
The Times
Published: Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Ten 'johns' were arrested last week in a prostitution sweep by Abbotsford Police in the city's downtown core and the Clearbrook Road corridor.
Most of the men arrested Wednesday and Thursday were Abbotsford residents, aged 21 to 60 years, and frequent customers of the sex trade, said Abbotsford Police Const. Casey Vinet.
"There was no shortage of customers," he said. Some were arrested previously for the same offence.
The sting using undercover female police officers is part of the efforts by Abbotsford Police to reduce prostitution, and there will be more stings, said Vinet.
Both target areas are troubled by prostitution and drug over-use, he said, and one way to address the issues raised by local businesses and residents is to target the johns, he said.
"We believe that the johns are a big part of the problem. If we could get rid of the johns we could get rid of the soliciting," said Vinet.
He noted that while the police are doing what they can, "prostitution is a social problem and a law enforcement approach by itself will not solve it."
The men were released to appear in court at a later date, with each facing one count of communication in a public place for the purpose of prostitution.
Police and Crown counsel will look at each individual case to see if the person is a candidate for "john school," which diverts men from the court system, but educates them on the repercussions of hiring street prostitutes.
"We want johns to think twice about obtaining the services of a prostitute, said Vinet. "They should know that the person they are approaching may be a police officer."
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