Targeting sex buyers works — time to act

I hope every TD will read Det Insp John O’Reilly’s book (Garda’s book sheds light on degradation of sex slaves, Irish Examiner Oct 22) and take on board the compelling arguments for targeting the buyers of sex to end trafficking, exploitation, and abuse.

The book could not be more timely, given the current Government review of prostitution laws. Here we have a detective with considerable experience at home and abroad outlining the human misery used by pimps and traffickers to line their own pockets.

Legalising or regulating their operations in any form and bringing brothels into our communities is completely unacceptable and needs to be rejected out of hand.

International experience, and indeed the high profile raids mounted by O’Reilly’s colleagues in Limerick, have shown us that targeting sex buyers works.

I would urge our politicians to act swiftly on this issue and offer some hope to the victims of trafficking.

Any delay will only benefit those criminals who do not care about the rights of women and girls.

Jennifer Curtin

Mallow

Co Cork