New garda unit set up to investigate organised crime linked to illegal sex trade New unit will enforce legislation criminalising purchase of sexual services and police brothels,violent attacks
Tue, Feb 2, 2021, 20:10
A new garda unit has been established to investigate organised crime linked to the illegal sex trade.
The Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit will police everything from the enforcement of legislation criminalising the purchase of sexual services, to brothels and violent attacks.
“A physical or sexual assault on a prostitute is a serious crime and an attack on a vulnerable person in the community,” said Det Chief Supt Declan Daly.
GARDAÍ have set up a specialist unit to target organised criminals involved in Ireland’s multi-million euro sex-trade.
The move is aimed at “protecting vulnerable persons, including victims of human trafficking involved in prostitution in Ireland.”
“This will be achieved by, tackling crime gangs involved in organisation of prostitution, by targeting the demand for prostitution and by safeguarding those persons trafficked for sexual exploitation,” a garda spokesperson said.
The unit have already been involved in targeting the vice trade including one case before the courts involving a 44-year-old male and a 26-year-old female.
They are charged with multiple offences including brothel keeping, money laundering and fraud related offences in the greater Dublin area.
Gardaí set up new unit to target prositution and brothel keeping
Recent attacks on vulnerable sex workers are also under investigation
A number of people are currently before the courts in relation to recent violent attacks on vulnerable sex workers. File picture.
Tue, 02 Feb, 2021 - 21:26
Ciarán Sunderland
Gardai have set up a new unit actively targeting organised prostitution and brothel keeping.
The Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit will police all aspects of organised criminality within the sex trade, including the enforcement of legislation criminalising the purchase of sexual services.
Two persons currently before the courts, a 44-year old man and a 26-year old woman, charged with multiple offences in relation to organised prostitution, brothel keeping, money laundering and fraud-related offences in the greater Dublin area, have been identified as examples of this unit s specialised investigations.