Ottawa police conduct prostitution sweep

Ottawa police conducted a prostitution sweep April 27 and 28 in Centretown, Lowertown, and Vanier, leading to the arrest of 20 men.

The sweep is part of an effort to deal with community identified prostitution and prostitution problems.

Nineteen of the arrested men qualified for the Pre-charge Diversion Program which includes attending “John School,” a project that educates offenders about the effects of prostitution. The remaining male was charged with six criminal offences, including communicating for the purpose of prostitution and mischief.