Mounted police used to stop prostitutes working on common

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The Met's mounted division is patrolling the area in and around Tooting Bec Common. It has been called in to help deal with the growing number of sex workers in the borough of Lambeth.

Pc Rebecca Young, of the Lambeth Safer Neighbourhoods team, said the horses were not being used to scare prostitutes but to give the operation a high-visibility presence.

"We want to show prostitutes and residents we won't stand for this kind of activity in this area," she said. "Complaints show this is happening all day, every day. [Our scheme] sends out a message to residents that we are doing everything we can."

Pamela Mazava, who helps prostitutes through homelessness charity Spires, is against the use of mounted officers.

She said: "All that happens when they move girls on like this is that they go to more secluded, dangerous places. It's short-term action when really the police should be looking at a long-term solution and concentrating their resources on that. It seems a bit over the top."