Call for refuge for rescued women

Refuges should be set up in Northern Ireland for women rescued from human trafficking, the head of the PSNI's organised crime squad has said.

On Wednesday, the PSNI, the Garda and police in Wales carried out raids against alleged human traffickers.

Superintendent Essie Adair said women rescued from brothels should be given safe accommodation.

He said society had to change its attitude to women enslaved in the illicit sex trade.

"We can't imagine how the victims of human trafficking or prostitution are hurt both physically and mentally," he said.

"We are trying to make sure that these victims are looked after, but this is a societal problem as society needs to do more for these women.

"We would call on groups, including the government, to establish a refuge for these women and to take them into safety in Northern Ireland."

Since last year, a number of covert police operations have been conducted at several locations in Northern Ireland being used as brothels by an organised crime gang through the internet.

The PSNI said it believed it has identified at least eight women who were trafficked into Ireland (north and south) and then forced into prostitution.

Police said seven of these victims had been rescued from brothels and that the women were vulnerable and had been "trafficked mostly from non-EU countries.

Meanwhile, five people arrested by gardai during Wednesday's raids have been released while a file is prepared for the DPP. Two others are still being questioned.