Officers from the Vernon detachment conducted an undercover operation last month targeting sex trade workers and users in Vernon. RCMP spokesman Gord Molendyk says the action was taken in part around concerns raised by members of the community and businesses in the downtown core."In all there were eleven arrests made during this operation. Six were men, on the sex trade user side of the issue. Of the six that have been arrested four have already agreed to participate in the Prostitution Offender Program put on by the John Howard Society, based out of the Lower Mainland. This program is paid by the user, and is educational form of justice for dealing with this offence."Molendyk says five women were arrested during the operation. "One had been arrested during a previous undercover operation. All of the women were provided information about programs within our community to assist them in changing their lifestyle. The police are aware that many of the women who are in the sex trade are there because of circumstances in their life, and for some it is a means to survive."Crown reports are expected to be forwarded at a future date.
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