A VICE operation has been hailed a success following a number of arrests.

Residents in Middlesbrough's Middlehaven and Gresham wards had been complaining about rising numbers of prostitutes working the streets around their homes and the associated anti-social behaviour.

Operation Majestic ran for three months until the end of December targeting notorious areas plagued by kerbcrawlers.

Officers in unmarked cars regularly patrolled the streets, armed with pictures of prostitutes subject to anti-social behaviour orders, and any potentially dangerous sex offenders.

Despite the number of working street prostitutes tumbling over the past few years, the problem has still been a cause for concern for residents.

Neighbourhood Policing Team officers, Middlesbrough Council and staff from Barnardo's Sexual Exploited Children Outreach Service worked together throughout the three month operation.

Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Warren Shepheard said: "The community approached Middlesbrough Police complaining of ongoing issues with prostitution within these wards.

"I believe we have clearly demonstrated what action can be taken in tackling quality of life issues when a well-structured operation such as Operation Majestic takes place.

"The Neighbourhood Policing Team has worked particularly hard over the past three months in tackling this problem and credit must be given to our partners and officers for this combined effort."

As a result of the clampdown eight arrests were made, nine summonses to court issued and dozens of stop checks carried out.