Executive Summary
- The Northern Ireland Assembly’s APG is investigating online platforms linked to human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
- The inquiry follows the 2015 Act which criminalized paying for sex but left selling legal.
- CARE NI and SERP Institute data suggest online sites are the primary tool for criminal gangs to exploit vulnerable women.
- Sex worker safety group Ugly Mugs warns that these platforms are essential for safety screening and are already regulated by Ofcom.
- The PSNI emphasized that tackling “unseen” sexual exploitation crimes requires community cooperation alongside police work.
The Northern Ireland Assembly’s newly formed All-Party Group (APG) on Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation has initiated a formal inquiry into the proliferation of online platforms facilitating the sale of sexual services. The investigation aims to address growing concerns that these digital platforms, often described by critics as “pimping websites,” are being utilized to exploit trafficked and vulnerable women across the region.
This legislative scrutiny comes 11 years after the passage of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Northern Ireland) Act 2015, which criminalized the purchase of sexual services. While the 2015 Act made paying for sex illegal, selling sexual services remains legal in Northern Ireland, creating a complex legal landscape. The APG intends to gather evidence from frontline organizations, law enforcement agencies, and survivors to determine how these websites operate and identify necessary regulatory changes.
Peter Martin, the Democratic Unionist Party assembly member for North Down and chair of the APG, stated that the inquiry seeks to expose platforms that exploit vulnerable women. Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster, Martin expressed concern regarding the intersection of commercial sexual exploitation and modern slavery, noting that some platforms attempt to conceal their operations behind narratives of “empowerment and safety.”
According to Christian Action, Research and Education (CARE NI), online platforms have become the primary method for criminal gangs to profit from the sale of vulnerable individuals since the 2015 law received royal assent. Jessica McDowell, a policy officer with CARE NI, emphasized the need for stronger action against gangs profiting from online exploitation, hoping the inquiry will focus on strengthening existing legislation.
Ruth Breslin, director of the Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy (SERP) Institute, reported that websites advertising prostitution are “very prevalent.” She noted that on the morning of the inquiry’s launch, more than 800 women were advertised on a single site. Breslin argued that while the purchase of sex is illegal in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, problems with implementation persist, and she called for more robust enforcement against sex buyers.
offering a different perspective, Lucy Smith, founder of the sex worker safety scheme Ugly Mugs, told BBC Radio Ulster that online platforms play a central role in safety for sex workers. Smith explained that these sites allow workers to screen clients and negotiate safety parameters. She highlighted that such platforms are already regulated under the Online Safety Act 2023, overseen by Ofcom. Smith cautioned against the introduction of legislation based on the moral objections of lobby groups, advocating instead for policies based on evidence.
In a statement regarding law enforcement efforts, Detective Inspector Rachel Miskelly of the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) organized crime branch described sexual exploitation as an often unseen crime. Miskelly affirmed that detectives are working tirelessly to identify offenders and safeguard communities, urging anyone with concerns to come forward.
Legislative and Regulatory Scope
The launch of this inquiry highlights the ongoing challenges in enforcing the 2015 abolitionist legislation within an increasingly digital marketplace. The investigation will likely center on the efficacy of the UK-wide Online Safety Act 2023 in curbing trafficking versus the potential risks of driving the sex trade further underground. Policymakers face the task of balancing the dismantling of criminal trafficking networks with the safety concerns raised by sex worker advocacy groups regarding online screening mechanisms.
