A Christian charity has urged for action against pimping websites operating in Northern Ireland, as a new inquiry examines the harm such platforms cause to women and girls.
CARE NI has welcomed the inquiry by the All-Party Group (APG) on Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation and has called for stronger enforcement of existing laws to tackle online sexual exploitation.
Jessica McDowell, policy officer at CARE NI, highlighted the scale of the problem, saying: “On any given day, over 300 women can be advertised for sale on pimping websites in Northern Ireland. This is illegal. The law is clear: purchasing sex is a crime. If that law were enforced, demand would reduce, and women and girls would receive better protection. It is time for action to be taken on the criminal gangs profiting from exploiting women online.”
The launch of the inquiry coincides with the eleventh anniversary of Northern Ireland’s human trafficking legislation, which made buying sex illegal in January 2015.
It uses the Nordic model, which criminalises the purchase of sexual services while offering support to women trying to escape exploitation.
Peter Martin MLA, Chair of the APG, said the inquiry is urgently needed. “Commercial sexual exploitation is a reality within our society, and pimping websites have facilitated this exploitation. This inquiry will work towards exposing these platforms, which have often hidden behind the veil of empowerment and safety,” he said.
Lord Morrow, who proposed the 2015 Bill, said the law is about protection. “Over ten years ago, the Northern Ireland Assembly took a courageous and bold step against those who seek to exploit women and girls. The Nordic Model is about protection. Protection from commodification and exploitation, and we remain steadfast in ensuring that this legislation is providing optimal protection for victims,” he said.
A Sky News investigation in June 2025 found thousands of potential signs of sexual exploitation on two of the UK’s largest pimping websites.
It revealed that repeated phone numbers and duplicated advert text suggested trafficking networks, with campaigner Kat Banyard commenting that these platforms “make it as easy to order a woman to be sexually exploited as it is to order a takeaway.”
A special event at Stormont will mark the launch, hosted by the APG and CARE NI.
The inquiry will review how the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is using its powers and explore ways to reduce demand and protect women and girls.