Ireland became the ‘destination of choice’ for prostitutes over the boom years, according to a top crime official.
Superintendent Fergus Healy of the Garda’s Crime Policy and Administration Unit made the observations during hearings into the state of prostitution in Ireland this week.
According to Supt Healy, police estimate there are around 800 women working on a daily basis as prostitutes in the Republic. There has been an increase in the amount of foreign women involved, with most coming from eastern Europe and China.
The hearing heard how one journalist posing as a prostitute had received 350 calls over a five-day period.
According to the Oireachtas hearing the introduction of legislation in 1993 has dramatically reduced the number of prostitutes working on streets. It was noted that the use of the Internet means most of Ireland’s prostitution has moved indoors.
The Irish Examiner reports there are low prosecution conviction rates as Supt Healy said many people due to be prosecuted leave Ireland before their case comes to court.
In 2002 there were 56 convictions from 202 prosecutions. In 2012, 12 people were convicted from 112 prosecutions.
He described the industry as a ‘sinister world’.
4 Comments
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.merefalow | Feb 12, 2013, 09:52 AM EST
evil women exploiting black economy,pimps and trafickers the dregs of a society,that turns its back on the women who are trapped within its coils,instead of legalising,taxing, and providing health care accomodation and protection for women who chose,OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL to work at this occupation.
SingleDonald | Feb 10, 2013, 05:50 PM EST
Very well put, Searlit! Too many people still see prostitution as a "victimless crime". Well, there is certainly nothing "victimless", in human trafficking! As I have previously said, their may be some justification for legalization, so long as: 1)All participants are there voluntarily. 2)This takes place in designated areas-"Red Light Districts"? 3)The gals get regular medical exams & treatment. 4)They, as well as the customers, are protected from assaults & robberies. Yet, there are still issues to consider, such as the reasons which brought the girls to this lifestyle. As I have said, even a guy, who serviced women, told a reporter that his mother was never there for him, when he was a young boy. He works for a legal brothel, in Nevada, and was interviewed by a gal reporter for the New York Post. So, the question of legalization has cons, as well as pros.
Searlit | Feb 09, 2013, 05:58 PM EST
That's an important video. I hope it wakes enough people up to the level of criminal trafficking of young women and children so that the money being sent to fight trafficking really goes toward ending trafficking. We really need to fight financial poverty, so it doesn't lead to moral poverty.
LiamScanlan | Feb 09, 2013, 02:01 PM EST
Grammar correction: "...increase in the amount of women..." should be "...increase in the number of women..."