North ban on buying sex ‘will drive pimps south’

Anti-prostitution campaigners have warned that the North’s decision to criminalise the buyers of sex could mean more pimps choosing to base their prostitution operations south of the border.

“There must now be real concern that criminal gangs, who will see demand reduced in Belfast, Derry and Newry, will now boost their activities in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and other parts of the Republic,” said Denise Charlton of the Immigrant Council of Ireland writing in this newspaper. “There can be no doubt that sex buyers in Northern Ireland, fearing prosecution, will be travelling to border towns and into our cities knowing that here they can purchase sex indoors with no fear of being caught.”

Late on Monday night, politicians at Stormont voted by 81-10 to support laws targeting the buyers of sex. Those laws will make the purchase of sexual services a criminal offence — while decriminalising those in prostitution.