700,000 'tart cards' seized in raids

Vice squad officers seized 700,000 prostitutes' cards and closed 33 brothels in Paddington's red-light district, it was revealed today.

More than 25 people were arrested as police raided flats and hotels. The operation came after officers spent three months identifying the most prolific offenders leaving lurid "tart cards" in phone boxes and other public places.

Displaying such cards was made a criminal offence last year punishable by a £5,000 fine or six months in prison. Inspector John Burke, who headed the operation, said the change in the law had improved the quality of residents' lives.

He added: "The main concern of my local residents is that they feel safe and vice cards are constantly mentioned as having a negative impact on their quality of life. The cards litter the streets, are increasingly pornographic and attract other illegal activities to the area. These cards degrade the area."

Police are now asking magistrates to order the "tart carders" to pay compensation to BT, which spends £250,000 a year removing 13 million cards from phone boxes in central London.

About 150,000 cards were removed from boxes every week in Westminster alone before the legislation was passed. Westminster councillor Alan Bradley said: "By working closely in partnership with the police, we hope to continue to reduce dramatically the incidence of these cards which deface and shame parts of our city."