A TOUGH crackdown on men who use prostitutes is underway in Glasgow.

 

Vice cops are determined to end the menace of men who prowl city streets - including an area known as "the drag" - in search of prostitutes.

One man was nabbed when police pulled his vehicle over after he allegedly drove round a well-known red light district, three times in around 30 minutes.

The 57-year-old's arrest comes just weeks after a dozen suspected sex fiends were banned from Glasgow city centre by police.

Inspector Gavin Smith said police want to eradicate prostitution from the city by targeting men who buy sex.

He told the Evening Times: "Our aim is to try and tackle prostitution by enforcing legislation aimed at the buyers of sex."

It is understood the 57-year-old is subject to similar conditions and is banned from the city's red light area.

He was released on an undertaking following his arrest.

As revealed by the Evening Times, 15 men were arrested for kerb crawling during an eight-week operation in the city centre.

More than 100 offences were detected during the clampdown, including 15 men allegedly cruising for prostitutes, most in the city's traditional red-light areas.

Bail conditions for a dozen of those arrested bar them from entering the city centre - including the red light district - until they next appear in court.

Inspector Claire Campbell, from the Greater Glasgow Divisional Violence Reduction Unit, said: "There is no easy solution to the problem of prostitution.

"And as police officers we need to be clear about what we are trying to achieve.

"We recognise the presence of women engaged in prostitution and their clients can cause alarm and annoyance to the communities they frequent.

"But we cannot ignore the assortment of different health, social problems and crime, associated with prostitution."

During the eight-week operation, almost 160 people were stopped and spoken to by specialist officers.

Around 40 fixed penalty notices were issued for anti-social behaviour offences, including street drinking, urinating and breach of the peace.

More than a dozen people were reported to the procurator fiscal for drugs-related offences, breaches of bail and road traffic offences.