Prostitution Ring Uncovered In West Belfast

The spectre of people trafficking and 'forced' prostitution has again been in the news - this time in a hard-line nationalist area of Belfast.

The Sinn Fein West Belfast MP, Paul Maskey MLA has welcomed the police's successes against people trafficking and associated prostitution, which appears to have become established in his constituency.

He was commenting after four people were arrested in Belfast in a police investigation into a human trafficking and vice ring.

The PSNI said six suspected trafficking victims from had been rescued in recent weeks due to their enquiries.

They said that the investigation has been running for three months and while centred in Belfast, stretched across Europe.

The four arrests on Wednesday were made in west Belfast. Three of the suspects are eastern European and the other is from Northern Ireland.

However, all the alleged victims are also believed to be eastern European.

On Wednesday, it emerged that the two men, aged 22 and 29, were arrested in apartments in King Street and the 24-year-old man and 22-year-old woman were detained in Cavendish Street, off the Falls Road.

Also, two women were rescued on Wednesday from the apartment block in King Street and a property in College Place North.

MP Paul Maskey said: "The rescue of six suspected trafficking victims in recent weeks by the PSNI is to be welcomed.

"The crime of people trafficking is among the most vile activities imaginable. Those involved in this activity need taken out of our society and anyone with the slightest information should provide it to the PSNI immediately.

"The victims of human trafficking, mainly females are usually brought here under the false impression of a better life only to be forced against their will into prostitution and other illegal activity.

"The successes by the PSNI are to be welcomed and our thoughts are with the women who have been rescued.

"These women have been through what can only have been a frightening and traumatic experience and their rescuers are to be commended," the MP concluded.

(BMcC/GK)