Four prostitutes have been charged with communicating with the purpose of engaging in prostitution following a sweep in the Elgin Street and Kathleen Street areas, according to Greater Sudbury Police Service.

The sweep happened June 12. Two of the women were held in custody as a result of additional drug charges and an outstanding warrant.

Three men were also arrested and their vehicles were seized under Sec. 217 of the Criminal Code for being used during the act of the offence.

The initiatives of the Greater Sudbury Police Service and its community partners not only focus on the illegal act of communicating for the purposes of engaging in prostitution, but also on the root causes and contributing factors that lead to this type of behaviour, according to a news release. As such, those who are arrested while committing prostitution-related offences are offered post-charge diversion by way of the John School or Jane Diversion.

GSPS continues to work with community partners at the Second Chances committee support and assist the sex trade workers. GSPS also works with community partners on the environmental committee to help find solutions to the problems in neighbourhoods associated with the presence of the sex trade. This includes making the community more desirable to residents by discouraging unlawful activities and applying crime prevention through environmental design principles.

Police continue efforts of deterring street-level prostitution and human trafficking. Enforcement efforts will continue throughout the summer and vehicles will continue to be seized if used during the commission of the offence.

Posted by Arron Pickard