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.