Underage sex trade uncovered

An sleazy under-age sex trade has been found in Christchurch after a police swoop netted several young prostitutes including a 12-year-old from the city's streets.

Police removed four under-age prostitutes from the streets last week, including one who was only 12, as they began a crackdown on young sex workers, Inspector Gary Knowles, of Christchurch police, said.

The police swoop was part of promised action on the teenage prostitute problem after a noticeable increase in their numbers on the streets, he told The Press newspaper.

"There's no doubt it's happening. Frontline staff are telling us there is an increase. We have had enough of it," he said.

Police had returned girls to their homes or to Child, Youth and Family care.

"We are doing it for their own protection. They are subjected to not just violence, but also social diseases," he said.

The concern for prostitutes had grown since the murder of prostitutes Suzie Sutherland, 36, and a 24-year-old who has name suppression, last year.

Mr Knowles said police were frustrated that some girls were returning to the streets soon after they were picked up by the police.

"The mothers and fathers or caregivers of these girls need to take ownership," he said.

Children's Commissioner Cindy Kiro said the situation also existed in South Auckland.

"It is unacceptable that people use those services and it is unacceptable that children may see that as a possible profession," she said.

The director of anti-child-prostitution group Ecpat, Jane Foster, described the police revelation as "a sad indictment".

"This is New Zealand in 2006 and men are buying sex from 12-year-olds. This is not good enough," she told The Press.

Mr Knowles said the primary police focus at the moment was getting young girls off the streets, and then they would start looking at tracking down the men who had knowingly bought under-age sex.

"The legislation is designed to protect children put into prostitution. If people are knowingly having sex with minors, they expose themselves to prosecution," he said.

- NZPA