Human trafficking 'hidden in plain sight' online

Human trafficking is being “hidden in plain sight online,” according to a Stormont inquiry that found the issue to be “catastrophic.”

The investigation into “pimping websites” in Northern Ireland was launched amid rising concern about trafficked and vulnerable women being exploited on online platforms.

The All-Party Group (APG) on Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation is set to publish its inquiry report on Tuesday.

The report says these sites enable criminal gangs to handle multiple profiles and disguise abuse behind the appearance that the women are acting independently.

It said 95% of women and girls trafficked were “brought for the purpose of sexual exploitation”.

The APG inquiry examined four major websites advertising women for sexual services across Northern Ireland: Locanto, Adult Works, Viva Street and Escort Ireland.

These websites are publicly accessible, and users choose women and make contact, usually via the website, WhatsApp or Telegram.

The women are described as “independent escorts” offering a wide range of services. But the report found the reality is very different.

Victim A was forced into prostitution at 19 and advertised online. She said the sites were not neutral platforms.

“They provide the infrastructure through which sexual exploitation can be organised, marketed and monetised,” she said.

“You have the websites but they bring the people from online actively looking for girls, our customer base knew that we were either being drugged before the appointment so that we were completely incoherent, you could not say yes or no, your body is paralysed, that's not said online.”

Another survivor was controlled by a man who managed the profiles of several women trafficked from Brazil.

“None of us had access to the emails from buyers. They came directly through him, he answered as if he was us.”

The report also says the National Crime Agency has identified websites advertising prostitution as “significant enablers of trafficking and sexual exploitation”.

BBC NI has spent months reviewing these websites and found that, on average, more than 500 women advertise sexual services every day in Northern Ireland.

Many of the women are moved from city to city. For instance, “Chloe” was advertised as being in Belfast for 24 hours.

The next day, she was advertised in Dublin with the same wording, “in the city for 24 hours”. Over the following week, she was advertised in six different cities across the island of Ireland, always for just 24 hours.

Ruth Breslin, from the Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute, said there were many cases before the courts, “both in the Republic and in the north of Ireland where these sites have played a key role in the sexual exploitation and in the human trafficking of women in the sex trade”.

“We know that women who have been exploited and trafficked are being advertised on these sites,” she said.

“Banning these sites is the right way to go. Regulation just won't be strong enough in this space. Even if we regulate this space tightly, the exploitation would still continue.”

The BBC approached Escort Ireland for comment, but it did not reply.

It is the largest site on the island of Ireland and has operated for 30 years.

It includes a disclaimer stating that “the charges are for time and companionship only”, and adds that “anything that occurs is a matter of coincidence and choice between consenting adults”.

The report dismissed the idea that the platforms can be safely regulated. It said criminal networks would “continue to exploit regulated environments unless the digital infrastructure itself is dismantled”.

It sets out several recommendations, including criminalising website operators, strengthening cross-border operational cooperation with the Republic of Ireland and introducing targeted interventions for men.

Connie Egan said the report should not be “read,noted and shelved”

“We now owe it to every woman who is advertised in Belfast today and every girl trafficked across this island against her will to ensure this report is not just read, noted and shelved,” she said.

“Hidden in plain sight across our country is the reality of sexual exploitation and all its associated harms and websites advertising prostitution are undeniably driving this.

“I hope survivors and those still trapped in prostitution will hear and read of our recommendations and recognise that they do have a voice.”

The exchange of sexual services for money is legal in England, Scotland and Wales.

But laws introduced in 2015 make it a criminal offence in Northern Ireland to pay for sex, either directly or indirectly.

However, selling sexual services is not illegal, nor is loitering or soliciting to do so, but running a brothel or controlling prostitution for profit remains a criminal offence.

Det Ch Supt Emma Neill is said sexual exploitation was often an unseen crime

Since the legislation was introduced on 1 June 2015 to 28 February, there were 134 arrests for the offence for sexual services; of those arrests, 105 were referred to the PPS; five led to conviction.

Det Ch Supt Emma Neill, who heads the Police Service of Northern Ireland's organised crime branch, said: “Our clear focus is on identifying and safeguarding victims who have been exploited, while identifying and gathering evidence against members of organised crime groups involved in that exploitation.

“Our huge challenge is that sexual exploitation is often an unseen crime. It can happen in plain sight. It's a challenging issue, which cannot be solved by policing along and which requires collective efforts.”