MORE than 160 people have been arrested as part of a garda operation targeting people who attempt to solicit prostitutes.

Operation Kerb is co-ordinated by officers based at the Bridewell Garda Station in the capital and has been deemed a major success by the Immigrant Council of Ireland.

The operation involves female gardai posing as prostitutes, leading to the arrest of motorists or kerb-crawlers who attempt to solicit them.

A total of 161 arrests, 35 searches and 94 charges and summonses have resulted from the operation in Dublin's north inner city in the past three years.

Sources say that it has "practically ended street prostitution" in the Benburb Street area, a locality which would have been considered Dublin's red-light area.

Gardai in Limerick city have carried out a similar investigation codenamed Operation Freewheel which saw more than 20 men detained and charged with soliciting or importuning for the purposes of prostitution on dates between November 11 and December 4, 2011.

In Dublin, some undercover female gardai at the Bridewell Garda Station who are involved in Operation Kerb were also attempting to snare a notorious rapist who had been stalking the streets in a van trying to abduct and rape prostitutes.

DANGEROUS

This dangerous middle-aged Dublin criminal has now fled the country and a bench warrant has been issued for his arrest after he failed to appear at a court hearing last year.

Commenting on the Operation Kerb figures, Denise Charlton, chief executive of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, said: "Operation Kerb has seen gardai directly target kerb-crawlers and those soliciting prostitutes on the streets in the Bridewell Garda sub-division and according to these new figures it has been a success.

"This success mirrors the impact of similar operations in Limerick where buyers were also targeted.

"While these on-street operations have been a success, gardai are almost powerless to prevent the most prevalent form of prostitution which takes place indoors in brothels, apartment complexes and hotel rooms – it is here the thugs and criminal gangs make the big money.

TARGETED

"It is time for the Government to make our laws fit for purpose and ensure those buyers who trawl the internet to purchase sex and feed a multi-million euro crime are also targeted," Ms Charlton said.

KFOY@HERALD.IE