Loopholes in legislation allowing criminals to operate which results in sex tourism - Watson

We know there are some loopholes in the legislation at the moment that allow criminals to operate in a way that they don't in other areas and as a result of that there is some sex tourism that I think we can address and we can stop it relatively easily.

This was highlighted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes Program Officer in Cybercrime Mathew Watson during his presentation at the Pacific Conference of Churches consultation today.

Watson says sex tourism is a related society of crime and which often involves drug-related tourism.

He says the predators are online and they are talking amongst themselves.

He adds if you go to England you can do XYZ and you may get caught but he says there are loopholes here and one of the areas that they are particularly focusing on is plugging that gap for the Pacific.

Watson says there are some aspects of tourism that need to be looked at and some of these include tourist ships or cargo ships where drugs are being attached to the hull of the ships that are going into the Pacific.

Watson also highlighted examples of school kids being caught using heroin needles and sharing them in secondary school.

He says this is awful, especially at a time when there has been a high risk of HIV that's exacerbated through needle sharing.

He adds when it comes to security and helping those who are vulnerable especially school children, it is that prevention aspect of the work that they at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes are doing, going into schools, and helping raise awareness.

Watson says its not all about creating awareness that matters but what happens when they leave and they want to make sure there's something that's lasting.

He says in this case they are looking at developing some material and guidance that they can give to these institutions and schools as well that can be distributed regularly to the students and that awareness be raised because it's those that are vulnerable in those situations that need to be reached out to.