Edmonton – Dozens of people were arrested last week during an Edmonton Police Service (EPS) operation to deter prostitution.
Thirty men, ranging from 18 to 60-years-old, have been charged with communicating for the purpose of prostitution.
Between August 12 and August 15, police laid 64 charges and seized 26 vehicles as part of the project.
Police also arrested and charged 25 women and one transgendered person for communicating for the purpose of prostitution.
Police say the female sex-trade workers who were arrested were offered counseling, treatments for drug addictions and other services through the “Snug Program” in exchange for their charges being dropped. Eighteen of the women have accepted the help and two went into detox treatment.
The men who have been charged have been offered a chance to attend “John school.”
During the operation police also laid charges of drug trafficking, living off of the proceeds of crime, and breach of conditions.