What are Signs of Trafficking?

[doodlebug]

if a lady has little to no english

then how does she get a mobile, apartment an add in english, answer the phone in english and give you direction
no intrest in apointment dosnt want to be there, unwilling, knock to the door when times up
thats something aall clients can see

I agree Kelly if all of those signs are there then you are probably in the realm of trafficking, but its not as simple as how did she get apartment etc, if the Celtic tiger showed us anything it is that many thousands of people with less than basic English have come to live among us, and they manage to negotiate apartments, electricity etc.

The other point is if the knock at the door comes at the end to confirm your suspicions as a client you are already beyond the point of legality, you are guilty of having sex with a trafficked girl, most people will be reluctant to report at that stage.

[harry10]

Lots of research about who you see should make it much less likely to end up in the situation in the first place.

[Patricia]

Report suspicious situations to the police. If the escort is independent and legit she has nothing whatsoever to fear from them.

Agree somewhat but also think it is probably not going to be helpful to anyone if clients report for no good reason, so we shouldn't be encouraging reporting without good enough reason? It's a difficult point to consider.

Also, although you may not mind police visiting you, some ladies wouldn't find this an easy situation to be put in, it may cause them upset. You may have a confidence in this type of situation that not all ladies have. As well I must note we are living in a country where escorts who don't work alone are criminalised. In this situation normal escorts who are working with a friend for their safety are in a difficult situation legally.

[Patricia]

Not to labor this point, but have these changes been published yet?

No, tomorrow I hope!

[Patricia]

The other point is if the knock at the door comes at the end to confirm your suspicions as a client you are already beyond the point of legality, you are guilty of having sex with a trafficked girl, most people will be reluctant to report at that stage.

But you can report anonymously.

[UKHeather]

Not to labor this point, but have these changes been published yet?

In Pat's defence here...One change has been made and announced to the escorts. It was made quite quickly after the RTE programme.. Whilst it does make things slightly more difficult for independent escorts aswell, I am sure if it makes it more difficult for pimps, then we don't mind too much.

[doodlebug]

Agree somewhat but also think it is probably not going to be helpful to anyone if clients report for no good reason, so we shouldn't be encouraging reporting without good enough reason? It's a difficult point to consider.

Also, although you may not mind police visiting you, some ladies wouldn't find this an easy situation to be put in, it may cause them upset. You may have a confidence in this type of situation that not all ladies have. As well I must note we are living in a country where escorts who don't work alone are criminalised. In this situation normal escorts who are working with a friend for their safety are in a difficult situation legally.

Although probably pie in the sky stuff, the solution revolves around a peer verification system, where independent escorts are able to verify that other escorts are genuinely independent and not trafficked. Naturally escorts are not keen to socialise with clients (in general, trust confidentiality etc) and so in those circumstances some form of escorts meeting and verifying all of the signs are negative, i.e. was able to travel to meet on her own steam, keeps her money, isn't being managed etc and then that verification can be displayed. I know this probably unworkable but is the only system I can think of right now.

[doodlebug]

But you can report anonymously.

Indeed, and some of us would, but what about a situation where you report, and it turns out the Gardai are aware and have been watching you coming and going!!!

[UKHeather]

Agree somewhat but also think it is probably not going to be helpful to anyone if clients report for no good reason, so we shouldn't be encouraging reporting without good enough reason? It's a difficult point to consider.

Also, although you may not mind police visiting you, some ladies wouldn't find this an easy situation to be put in, it may cause them upset. You may have a confidence in this type of situation that not all ladies have. As well I must note we are living in a country where escorts who don't work alone are criminalised. In this situation normal escorts who are working with a friend for their safety are in a difficult situation legally.

Agreed. I assumed if a client was reporting a worry to the authorities then he would have to be concerned enough about the lady to consider this move.

[FullLife]

I think this discussion is useful but also it's incredibly depressing if we punters need a step by step guide to spotting suspected trafficking. God, are we that moronic and unfeeling that we can't spot someone in a bad situation that they have no control over?
Surely even if there's a language barrier, we can communicate enough to see if someone needs help, and then have the gumption to call the guards if we feel the situation is suspect?
Also, there seems to be a skirting around the issue of agency escorts here.
I'll admit to seeing a couple of escorts who worked for an agency, and asked them about it.
I thought the percentage the agency kept was fairly steep, as did they, but there was no hint of being trafficked or coerced.
In fact they were intelligent foreign girls who wanted to make some money and saw the agency as being a good way to have a phone, apartment, some security or protection etc. organised for them.
While I'm aware this makes me seem less than perfect I think the stigma attached to Agency Escorts is extreme here.
I don't know, trafficking is just evil and the ultimate power rests with punters to stop it.
Do we really need some exaggerated hyped up RTE documentary to point that out?
I'd like to think we're intelligent enough to figure it out for ourselves and most of what I've seen on the boards here reassures me that we are.
No angels most of us, but not mindless animals either.
But well done for raising the discussion anyway.