This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-31484593
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| PSNI studying BBC Northern Ireland sex trade documentary | |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Police have said they are studying a BBC documentary that uncovered how young Asian women are being recruited to work in the sex trade in Belfast. | |
| The investigation uncovered a brothel luring undocumented Asian women to Belfast. | |
| It found the women were being promised work to pay off people smugglers. | It found the women were being promised work to pay off people smugglers. |
| Justice Minister David Ford said the extension of the National Crime Agency to NI should help to stop people being trafficked into the sex trade. | |
| Mr Ford said the NCA will have greater powers and resources than the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). | Mr Ford said the NCA will have greater powers and resources than the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). |
| 'International reach' | 'International reach' |
| The BBC investigation exposed how women were being recruited to work as prostitutes in Belfast through a classified newspaper advert in the UK China Times. | The BBC investigation exposed how women were being recruited to work as prostitutes in Belfast through a classified newspaper advert in the UK China Times. |
| An undercover reporter, who replied to the advert as part of the investigation, was offered sex work by the Belfast brothel manager, who introduced herself as Lisa. | An undercover reporter, who replied to the advert as part of the investigation, was offered sex work by the Belfast brothel manager, who introduced herself as Lisa. |
| Lisa told the reporter that she keeps half of the earnings of the prostitutes she recruits. | Lisa told the reporter that she keeps half of the earnings of the prostitutes she recruits. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster, Mr Ford said people trafficking into the sex trade was causing "major problems across Europe". | Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster, Mr Ford said people trafficking into the sex trade was causing "major problems across Europe". |
| "I think the authorities are doing what they can but clearly the PSNI has limited resources and is not particularly in a position to follow up matters which clearly originated in Great Britain to the Chinese press there. | "I think the authorities are doing what they can but clearly the PSNI has limited resources and is not particularly in a position to follow up matters which clearly originated in Great Britain to the Chinese press there. |
| "One of the key issues there is to see that, using particularly the resources of a body like the National Crime Agency, which has the international reach to see the source countries working alongside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as well as the ability to co-ordinate across different regions of the UK. | "One of the key issues there is to see that, using particularly the resources of a body like the National Crime Agency, which has the international reach to see the source countries working alongside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as well as the ability to co-ordinate across different regions of the UK. |
| "When we get the NCA fully operational in Northern Ireland in a few months time I hope that will help," Mr Ford added. | "When we get the NCA fully operational in Northern Ireland in a few months time I hope that will help," Mr Ford added. |
| Oversight mechanisms | Oversight mechanisms |
| The NCA was introduced in the rest of the UK in 2013, but its powers have been limited in Northern Ireland due to nationalist politicians' concerns over its accountability. | The NCA was introduced in the rest of the UK in 2013, but its powers have been limited in Northern Ireland due to nationalist politicians' concerns over its accountability. |
| However, following a new agreement on oversight mechanisms, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) agreed to support the extension of the NCA's full powers to Northern Ireland. | However, following a new agreement on oversight mechanisms, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) agreed to support the extension of the NCA's full powers to Northern Ireland. |
| Sinn Féin retains its objection to the move, but SDLP's change of position means the NCA will be fully operational in Northern Ireland within the coming months. | Sinn Féin retains its objection to the move, but SDLP's change of position means the NCA will be fully operational in Northern Ireland within the coming months. |
| 'Underground' | 'Underground' |
| Northern Ireland recently became the first part of the UK to make buying sex a crime, following legislation brought before Stormont by the Democratic Unionist Party peer, Lord Morrow. | Northern Ireland recently became the first part of the UK to make buying sex a crime, following legislation brought before Stormont by the Democratic Unionist Party peer, Lord Morrow. |
| Lord Morrow told BBC Radio Ulster: "What my bill is designed to do primarily is to support victims of human trafficking and there are in the bill measures to support those who have been exploited. | Lord Morrow told BBC Radio Ulster: "What my bill is designed to do primarily is to support victims of human trafficking and there are in the bill measures to support those who have been exploited. |
| "That was what the purpose and the drive of my bill was, and for those who try to say that this might in some way drive it further underground, I just fail to understand that , because quite frankly, this type of activity is already underground." | "That was what the purpose and the drive of my bill was, and for those who try to say that this might in some way drive it further underground, I just fail to understand that , because quite frankly, this type of activity is already underground." |
| The BBC Radio Ulster documentary - Vice Girl or Victim - is available on the BBC iPlayer. | The BBC Radio Ulster documentary - Vice Girl or Victim - is available on the BBC iPlayer. |