BENEFIT cheat investigators patrolled the streets of Medway to target prostitutes earning up to £1,000 a week while claiming the dole. The hit squad joined forces with police and Medway Council’s fraud squad for the first time in an undercover operation to catch prostitutes and their clients in action.

The two-day crackdown, in the High Street and New Road area of Rochester, caught young prostitutes trading to fuel drug habits. At a briefing, DSS staff said if all of the 40 regular women there were illegally claiming average benefits, it would cost Medway tax payers around £6,000 a week and a third of a million pounds a year.

As the women operate in dark alleys and behind lock-up garages, their “boyfriends” are often spotted lurking nearby to take their earnings. Operation Quota was set up about three years ago following mounting concern about the nuisance caused by prostitution.

From next Monday new legislation is being introduced enabling police to arrest kerb-crawlers and charge them on the spot. Until now suspects have been stopped, interviewed and only cautioned.

PC Sean O’Connor, heading the blitz with Paul Clare from the Benefits Agency and John Getley from Medway Council Fraud Investigation, said it had been “extremely worthwhile”.

Among scores touting for business, three women were arrested for soliciting for the purpose of prostitution, one for possession of drugs and one for breach of bail. A further six women were given street cautions and five men were reported for kerb-crawling.

PC O’Connor said the women were dependent on drugs, mainly heroin.

A council spokesman said: “Several of those cautioned or arrested for soliciting were found to be claiming housing and council tax benefits and we will look into this further over the next few weeks.”