PROSTITUTION is up in Singapore.

But it's not a problem at Duxton Road, said the police.

In a reply to The New Paper, its spokesman, Ms Ng Siew Hua, said in 2007, about 5,402 female foreigners were arrested islandwide for vice-related activities.

This was an increase of 25 per cent compared to 2006.

The increase in arrests was partly due to stricter enforcement action.

Police conducted about 950 vice-related operations island-wide, up from 890 operations the previous year.

Public soliciting in the Duxton area was not common, she said.

She added there were a few major KTV outlets operating in the area, which attracted many locals and foreigners.

She said police conducted regular checks on these outlets and the surrounding area.

And they would continue with strict enforcement action against any errant operators and anyone associated with vice.