Attempts to tackle the scourge of prostitutes’ calling cards in phone boxes have been ramped up in Kensington and Chelsea.

Police have arrested nine people caught placing the calling cards in booths in the past week, K&C Council has struck a deal with BT which will see the top half of the worst affected phone boxes given a frosted covering.

All this comes after a police raid in Earl’s Court this month resulted in officers confiscating 100,000 of the questionable cards.

It follows an operation by the council and police to tackle this issue, during which they monitored phone boxes to identify the worst affected.

Calling cards in phone boxes are still a common site in some parts of the borough despite it being illegal to place them in phone boxes.

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The latest round of arrests brings the total to 29 for the offence this year. The council say police have removed 80,000 cards from phone boxes and seized a further 100,000 cards in a raid in Earl’s Court on November 16.

Cllr Joanna Gardner, cabinet member for community safety, IT and corporate services, said: “We are well aware of the affect these cards have on residents, visitors and the area.

“It is a challenge to try and get rid of this problem, but I believe this latest initiative will have a significant impact on the problem and I would encourage anyone who sees these cards to contact the Council or police so that they can be removed.”

Anyone that spots a prostitute card in phone boxes is asked not remove them, but let the council know by using the app RBKC Local, emailing streetline@rbkc.gov.uk, calling them on 020 7361 3001, or the police on 101.