AN undercover investigation to expose the extent of Haringey's red light districts resulted in 24 men cruising for sex being arrested.

Haringey police officers conducted the four-night operation alongside the Metropolitan Police clubs and vice unit last week in response to community concerns over street prostitution.

Safer Neighbourhoods Teams (SNTs) from Bruce Grove, St Ann's, Seven Sisters and Tottenham Green were all involved in the sting, after residents flagged up concerns about prostitution on their doorstep.

Some female residents had also complained of being hassled by kerb crawlers on the prowl.

Used condoms and other "sex litter" were also being left discarded in alleyways, school playgrounds, and utility sheds where the prostitutes take their clients.

Eight men were caught kerb crawling in Lawrence Road, Tottenham — the borough's most notorious area to pick up sex workers. The quiet stretch of road, connects Philip Lane and West Green Road and is overlooked by derelict office buildings.

A further ten arrests were made in Seven Sisters Road and five arrests in nearby Manchester Road and Haysham Road. Another man was arrested in West Green Road.

Sergeant Matthew Casey, of Bruce Grove SNT, said: "We conducted the same operation this time last year, resulting in several people being arrested for kerb crawling.

"This year's operation was conducted with neighbouring wards, who have now also got prostitution as a priority, to establish if there had been any displacement. The results have shown our year-long action in Lawrence Road has significantly decreased the activity there, but also shows prostitution has moved to Seven Sisters ward, so we will continue to work to address this."

According to Detective Sergeant Bill Wright, of the Met's clubs and vice unit, the majority of girls who work the streets are usually British-born and drug addicts who sell sexual favours for about £25 to support their drug habit or their partner's.

But he said there were women who travel to London from their homes in the north of England to make extra money to support their families or clear debts.

DS Wright said: "People might think this is harmless, but it is not. Some of these men don't even think they are doing anything wrong. Men who pay these girls for sex are putting money in their pockets to buy drugs.

"The girls will go to areas where they know there is a demand for sex. If we target the kerb crawlers, we cut the demand and have a better chance of slowing the trade down."

Of the 24 men arrested, 22 men have been charged and will appear at Highgate Magistrates Court, in Bishops Avenue, later this month.