Gardaí speak to 38 people suspected of having purchased services from individuals involved in prostitution

38 individuals were spoken to on suspicion of having purchased sexual services from an individual involved in prostitution.

During this past week, An Garda Síochána conducted an operation across nine Garda divisions targeting the demand for prostitution and to enforce legislation which criminalises the purchase of sexual services. The operation was conducted by the Operation Quest team at the Garda National Protective Services Bureau, in liaison with local Detective Units, and took place in furtherance of an enforcement strategy to target people involved in the purchase of sexual services. During this operation, 38 individuals were spoken to by Gardaí, arising from suspicion that they had purchased sexual services from an individual involved in prostitution. A number of files will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, with a view to establishing if any criminal prosecution should be initiated, arising from the 'Days of Action'. Gardaí say this operation reinforces their commitment to targeting the demand for prostitution and to protect vulnerable persons, including victims of human trafficking involved in prostitution. This is the second national operation targeting the demand for prostitution in 2019 and further operations are planned. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 criminalises the purchase of sexual services and the soliciting or purchasing of sex from a trafficked person.