5481: LISTEN¦ 'Anywhere from 80-90%' of the 300 women appearing every day on 'pimping websites' in NI have been trafficked. Frank spoke to the chair of a new All Party group, investigating the increase in websites offering prostitution services

Key Points

• An investigation is underway into online prostitution websites in Northern Ireland, with concerns that a high percentage (estimated 80-90%) of the women advertised are victims of trafficking.
• The sex trade has largely moved online, operating discreetly through date-like arrangements, making it harder to detect and combat compared to traditional brothels or street-based prostitution.
• Clients are not a specific demographic but come from all ages, professions, and backgrounds, challenging the stereotype of who purchases sex.
• A significant challenge in helping trafficked victims is the language barrier and their controlled, isolated situations, which hinder escape and reporting.
• Current laws, like Lord Morrow's Act from 11 years ago, aim to target the demand, but the evolving online nature of the industry presents ongoing enforcement difficulties.

Summary

The transcription features an interview with Peter Martin, a Democratic Unionist Party MLA and chair of an all-party group on human trafficking. The discussion centers on the alarming proliferation of online prostitution websites in Northern Ireland. It is revealed that an estimated 300 young women are advertised on these platforms, with a staggering 80 to 90 percent believed to be victims of trafficking from various countries, including Romania, Syria, Nigeria, Brazil, Portugal, and Spain.

A key point emphasized is the transformation of the sex trade, which has largely migrated online from more visible forms like brothels. This digital shift allows the industry to operate under the guise of casual dating, where arrangements are made online and encounters occur in private locations like apartments or hotels, complicating detection and law enforcement efforts.

The conversation challenges common perceptions about clients, noting that they are not a narrow demographic but encompass men of all ages and professions, including those leading conventional family lives. This widespread demand perpetuates the industry. The interview underscores the severe exploitation faced by trafficked women, who are often manipulated, face language barriers, and feel trapped in their situations, making rescue and protection exceptionally difficult.

While legislation such as Lord Morrow's Act exists to criminalize the purchase of sex and target demand, the online evolution of the trade presents significant ongoing challenges. The interview concludes with a hope for increased protection for victims and more serious action from legal authorities to address this complex issue of modern slavery and commercial sexual exploitation.