A BID to clear Medway of prostitutes has taken a step forward with the authorities securing court action against them.

Police staged a clampdown on kerb-crawlers in Rochester’s red light district on Wednesday night.

The operation came just a day after the police and Medway Council successfully applied at Medway Magistrates Court for anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) to be placed on 10 known prostitutes operating in the area.

The orders will stop the women soliciting in an area incorporating Rochester High Street, Star Hill, New Road, Victoria Gardens and Fort Pitt Hill and Maidstone Road, Chatham.

During the operation on Wednesday, a team of eight officers maintained a high visibility presence on New Road Avenue in Rochester - a popular hang-out for prostitutes - to deter and question suspected kerb crawlers. Nearly 40 cars were pulled over between 6pm and 9pm as part of Operation Quota, a scheme to interrupt and prohibit the culture of prostitution and drugs in the red light district.

Insp Neil Owen, of Medway Police, said: “It was high profile policing intended to prevent and deter kerb-crawlers and offer reassurance to residents in terms of quality of life issues."

Wednesday night also saw a meeting at the Civic Centre in Strood about progress in fighting prostitution. Hundreds of people attended the meeting, chaired by ward councillor Bill Esterson, to have their say on the issue.

One mother, who does not wish to be named for fear of reprisals from prostitutes, said residents wanted police to do more. She said: “The car checks they did on Wednesday are a start, but the kerb-crawlers will come back.

“I have a teenage son and daughter and they are both regularly approached by kerb-crawlers and prostitutes. We have also had problems with shouting, swearing, pimps and needles being left on the street and in gardens.

“Action like the checks and the ASBOs are a start, but it will be interesting to see if they are properly enforced.”

Cllr Esterson said: “It was a constructive meeting and a good opportunity for residents to get their point across. They feel like the victims in all this and they will all be interested to see how effective the ASBOs prove to be and how successful police are at clamping down on prostitution and drugs.”

Residents are hoping to arrange another meeting in January.