Prostitution has been taking place on Tooting Bec Common for over 100 years’. But that doesn't mean we have to accept it in our community.

Following an increase in the problem last year, Sadiq Khan MP asked Wandsworth Council and Wandsworth Borough Police to introduce an exclusion zone. This allows police to move prostitutes on, and arrest them if they return to the area.

This led to an ASBO being issued recently, preventing a woman from entering the exclusion zone around Bedford Hill, at the risk of imprisonment.

Sadiq believes that action must be taken at the local, regional and national level to help people quit prostitution and target those who exploit them. He welcomes government plans to tackle forced prostitution and human trafficking.

Last summer, the police concluded Operation Pentameter 2 - a nationwide series of operations to tackle sex trafficking and prostitution. 822 premises - including some in Wandsworth - were visited, 528 arrests were made, and 167 victims were rescued.

Sadiq has since lobbied the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Wandsworth Borough Commander Stewart Low and the Chief Executive of Wandsworth Council to make sure tackling prostitution and sex trafficking remain a high priority.

Sadiq Khan MP said, "Locally, this is exactly the sort of problem that Labour set-up neighbourhood police teams to tackle, putting bobbies back on the beat. Please contact them if you have any information about this issue - I'll be monitoring the action taken."

Bedford Safer Neighbourhood Team can be reached on 020 8721 2424 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it