Ms Nusha Yonkova:

Northern Ireland forms part of the debate around the UK's policing and crime Bill. A penalty was introduced for men who purchase sex from individuals who are controlled. The word "controlled" was defined much more broadly than "trafficked". In our jurisdiction we have penalties against men who purchase trafficked people, which is a narrower situation and more difficult to prove. The idea behind the UK legislation, including the Northern Ireland legislation that is now in operation, is that more men will be captured in the scope of this prohibition, and demand will be impacted on a greater scale with their legislation. Currently, in Northern Ireland there is a call for a review of this conditionality and to outlaw demand unconditionally for all men who are seeking and purchasing prostitution. It remains to be seen what will happen.