A new vice squad is being created by Lambeth Police to tackle prostitution, drug dealing and kerb crawling in Streatham.

The specialist unit was axed last year to the dismay of residents who warned it would lead to an upsurge in street prostitution.

They were proved right and on October 1 a new, nine-strong team, consisting of a sergeant and eight constables, will hit the streets.

Working both in uniform and undercover, they will focus on notorious red-light "hotspots" such as Garrad's Road and the area around Tooting Bec Common.

Further good news for Streatham residents is that they will be based at Streatham Police Station, whose future had been looking uncertain.

Lambeth Police's Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Nick Ephgrave, said the the squad would tackle "head on" street prostitution and associated anti-social behaviour from kerb crawlers, drug dealers, brothels and "those who live off immoral earnings."

He said: "It will send a clear message to those engaged in street prostitution - both sex workers and their customers - that this behaviour is unsafe, unlawful, anti-social and will not be tolerated' .

High visibility patrols will be used to deter kerb-crawlers while a crackdown on brothels will be run in conjunction with the Met's Clubs and Vice Unit.

The news was welcomed by local campaigners, some of whom have been subjected to both abuse and serious violence from prostitutes working in the area.

Vice chair of the St Leonard's Ward Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) Panel, Amanda Austin, said facing the vice problem with only SNTs resources had "increased the challenges of dealing with the problem in a joined-up way with any lasting results."

She said police resources had been overstretched leading to a spike in other crimes in the area such as burglary in the past year.

Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Chris Nicholson, who has been involved in the campaign to reintroduce the squad, said he was delighted the concerns of the community had been listened to.

Mr Nicholson said he believed Streatham Police Station housing the vice squad was also "a good sign" that plans floated for it to be closed may not come to fruition.

Spires, an organisation working to help sex workers in the area, has also welcomed the squad's reintroduction.

Director Amanda Addo said: "It is better to have a dedicated team. The women will respond better to police officers' faces they know."

She said the squad's role should not just be to "displace" street sex workers but work towards a long-term solution, with organisations such as themselves.

A Lambeth Police spokeswoman said the unit would be "liasing with its partners" in Lambeth and Wandsworth to "best combat the issues involved".