Group's campaign identifying sex workers 'a cause of concern' to gardaí

A garda spokesman said: 'An Garda Síochána, through the Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit (OPIU) within the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) and local gardaí regularly engage with people that work in the sex trade for the purpose of pro-actively carrying out safeguarding checks.' File picture: Denis Minihane

Gardaí are concerned about correspondence sent from a group to public representatives and media identifying sex workers and the addresses from where they work.

Such correspondence has been received in Kerry, Galway and Carlow in recent weeks, claiming to be from a group called Escort Ireland Watch. It contains photos of sex workers and a representative group, Sex Workers Alliance of Ireland, says the campaign is opening sex workers up to blackmail.

A garda spokesman said gardaí are aware of the "detailed correspondence". He said: "The manner in which such groups operate are a cause of concern for An Garda Síochána."

Under the Sexual Offences Act 2017, those who offer their services as a sex worker are not committing an offence, but brothel keeping is illegal. Part 4 of the legislation introduced two new offences — payment for sexual activity with a prostitute, and paying for sexual activity with a trafficked person.

Pointing out that the sale of sexual services is not a crime, he said that "any alleged crime should be reported to An Garda Síochána without delay".

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He added: "The publication of information in this manner, to third parties, may identify persons and/or properties thereby endangering those who are lawfully working independently in the sex trade. 

"An Garda Síochána, through the Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit (OPIU) within the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) and local gardaí regularly engage with people that work in the sex trade for the purpose of pro-actively carrying out safeguarding checks.

"These safeguarding checks are especially important so that gardaí can identify those who may be vulnerable or who maybe being sexually exploited, trafficked or the subject to threat. 

"During these safeguarding checks, sex workers are provided with contact information for specially trained Garda Liaison Officers attached to the OPIU, safety information and details of the free services that are available from supporting agencies such as the Health Service Executive Women’s Health Service, Ruhama and the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland."

An Garda Síochána has moved to assure anyone involved in the sex trade that the organisation is there in a supportive and listening role, with safety being a priority.

He added: "Gardaí will treat any report of a crime against them in the course of their work sensitively and with the utmost seriousness whether it is assault, theft or criminality of any other kind."

Stigma

Linda Kavanagh of the Sex Workers Association of Ireland says the correspondence being sent out feels like stalking and harassment of sex workers.

She said: “Sex workers feel that the safe spaces for them are shrinking, safe spaces for them to work. I really can’t overstate how much fear there is in Ireland for sex workers in Ireland around being outed because of the level of stigma that exists. There is that fear now that someone is watching them. 

"This opens up people up to blackmail as well if their images are being taken off a website, and where they are working is being highlighted.” 

She said that sex workers are very slow to disclose what they do for a living, even to their GP, a mental health professional or any crisis service they encounter. “Some people can’t or won’t leave sex work. The fear of stigma and judgement is just so high that they just don’t disclose.” 

Ms Kavanagh said the correspondence being sent “feels like a heightening of harassment and surveillance that sex workers have felt for a while”.