Time to ban pimping websites says inquiry

Northern Ireland should set the agenda again in tackling sexual exploitation by banning all websites advertising prostitution, according to a new report.

Hidden in plain sight was published today (Tuesday 20 October 2026) by the Northern Ireland Assembly All-Party Group on Modern Slavery and Commercial Sexual Exploitation.

It follows a landmark inquiry which was launched in January this year to establish the prevalence and harm of websites advertising prostitution in Northern Ireland.

Websites advertising prostitution concealing harm

The inquiry found that there has been a broad shift in the organisation of prostitution across Northern Ireland.

Where once prostitution was predominantly facilitated through street solicitation, newspaper adverts, telephone boxes, brothels and other locations, websites are now on the frontline.

But websites advertising prostitution mask and conceal the harm involved, especially to women and girls.

One survivor told the inquiry: "You have the websites, but they bring the people from online actively looking for girls, our customer base knew that we were either being drugged before the appointment so that we were completely incoherent, you could not say or no, your body is paralysed, that’s not said online."

Another survivor who was managed by a man who controlled the profiles of multiple women trafficked from Brazil said: "None of us had access to the emails from the buyers. They came directly through him, he answered as if he was us and then he would send me a message saying, oh, this person, you know, this is where you’re going to meet them. And this is what you have agreed to."

Report recommendations

Having carefully considered all the available evidence, the inquiry makes the following recommendations:

• Improve cross-border operational cooperation with the Republic of Ireland to tackle commercial sexual exploitation.
• Introduce Sex Trafficking Risk Orders.
• Amend the Online Safety Act 2023 to regulate websites advertising prostitution and ensure a ban can be enforced across the UK.
• Introduce an updated, properly funded strategy for leaving prostitution which will be published by the Department of Health.
• Require the Department of Justice to assess if a statutory disregard scheme for those convicted of the offence of loitering and soliciting for the purposes of prostitution is needed in Northern Ireland.
• Provide targeted interventions for men and boys to challenge attitudes underpinning the purchase of sex.
• Ensure mandatory training for frontline police and support agencies to ensure the most up-to-date investigatory techniques are employed to combat trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Time for Northern Ireland to lead the way

Northern Ireland already has a different legal approach to the rest of the UK on the regulation of prostitution.

Under the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015, the so-called Nordic Model was introduced across NI.

This means the purchase of sex is a criminal offence and those who sell sexual services are decriminalised. The objective is to reduce demand for prostitution and reduce sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

An amendment has also already been tabled to the Justice Bill by Paul Frew MLA which creates a new offence of publishing an advertisement which promotes or facilitates another person’s sexual services.

Commenting on the report, Peter Martin MLA, chair of the APG, said:

"The purpose of this landmark Inquiry was to better understand how technology has reshaped and changed commercial sexual exploitation in Northern Ireland.

"The sheer scale of what has been uncovered was far worse than what we feared.

"Websites advertising prostitution have become the new shop window for a trade that makes a profit from buying and selling people right here in Northern Ireland.

"We very carefully considered all the evidence submitted to the Inquiry from survivors, researchers, police officers and others and it is clear these websites provide an infrastructure through which exploitation is organised, scaled and concealed.

"Therefore, we have concluded that to better protect women and girls especially from violence and the harm caused by sexual exploitation and human trafficking, the time has come for the Assembly to ban all websites advertising prostitution.

"Our hope is that this new report will be met by politicians here in Northern Ireland and across the rest of the UK with firm and decisive action."

Connie Egan MLA, Deputy Chair of the APG, said:

"So much of the evidence we received through this Inquiry was harrowing to read and digest.

"I want to place on record my thanks especially to the many survivors who responded and who bravely shared their story. Their actions in doing so were not without personal risk.

"We now owe it to every woman who is advertised in Belfast today and every girl trafficked across this island against her will to ensure this report is not just read, noted and shelved.

"Hidden in plain sight across our country is the reality of sexual exploitation and all its associated harms and websites advertising prostitution are undeniably driving this.

"I hope survivors and those still trapped in prostitution will hear and read of our recommendations and recognise that they do have a voice and those willing to advocate for them."

Caroline Ansell, former MP and Director of Advocacy at CARE, said:

"The Executive at Stormont and the UK Government have their new strategies to combat violence against women and girls.

"Surely this Inquiry and its report make it crystal clear that one of the most obvious forms of violence is commercial sexual exploitation.

"CARE NI was a leading voice for Lord Morrow’s Human Trafficking Act, and we are humbled to be able to support the APG in its vital work to tackle the scourge of websites advertising prostitution.

"We live at a time when trust in politics is at an all-time low.

"By taking the recommendations of this report seriously, both the Executive and the UK government would send a very powerful signal that they are committed to action and not just rhetoric.

"We are deeply grateful to all the MLAs on the APG and all those who took the time to respond to the Inquiry. This report must be a catalyst for lasting change."