Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on Garda operation freewheel; the number of persons arrested and charged to date; the number of successful convictions secured to date; the number of gardaí involved; the cost of this operation to date; if this operation is still ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40117/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Freewheel commenced in 2010 and has focused on offences contrary to sections 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the Criminal Law Sexual Offences Act 1993. It is an ongoing, multi-phase investigation, devised in response to both identified crime trends and specific complaints of brothel and street-based prostitution from residents and the business community in an area adjacent to Limerick city centre. It focuses on the identification and prosecution of offenders, identifying any possible links to human trafficking and other criminal enterprises, and increasing awareness amongst those involved in prostitution, particularly women, of the availability of services to enable them to exit prostitution.

To date, 31 warrants obtained on foot of section 10 of the Act have been executed, 126 persons have been arrested and 87 charges preferred for offences contrary to sections 2, 8 or 11 of the Act. A total of 42 convictions have been recorded, resulting in fines being imposed in 41 cases (ranging from €100 to €600) and a suspended term of imprisonment imposed in the remaining case. The provisions of the Probation Act were applied in three cases. A total of 27 charges remain before the courts. Investigation files have been submitted to the Law Officers in respect of a number of other persons, with investigation files being prepared in respect of others.

As part of the initiative, two searches were conducted under warrant, during which two minors were found in brothels where they were working as prostitutes. Both were placed in the care of the Health Service Executive.

No specialist unit was established for or specifically tasked with this initiative. Uniform and plain-clothes personnel from Limerick city centre Garda stations were assigned to the initiative from operational tours of duty. Costs associated with the initiative are met from the Limerick Divisional Budget. The costs could not made available without a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources.