Gangs set to move sex workers south for lucrative trade

Organised criminal gangs prostituting vulnerable women in Northern Ireland are set to move into the “lucrative” market in the Republic unless the Government introduces laws to tackle the sex industry.

Ruhama chief Sarah Benson made the claim after revealing the support group has witnessed a surge in women working or being forced to work in the hidden sector in recent months.

Speaking at the launch of the group’s annual report for 2013, she said last year Ruhama directly supported 305 women who were trying to get out of the sex industry — an 18% increase on 2012.