Police in the southern NSW town of Griffith are investigating cases of under-age prostitution, but the problem is no worse than in other regional centres, its mayor says. Griffith local paper The Area News has reported that teenage girls in Griffith are selling themselves for drugs, cigarettes, jewellery or food.
Sydney-based Youth off the Streets founder Father Chris Riley said that in Griffith last week his organisation found eight children who were going to prostitute themselves before it intervened and took them home. But Griffith mayor Dino Zappacosta said police had been unable to locate children involved in such behaviour since the little information they received was rumour-based. He had informed police, but said there had been no arrests and police had no leads about an organised under-age prostitution ring in Griffith.
One anonymous source told the newspaper the problem was "rampant" and "widespread" while another said a child prostitution racket had been operating for 20 years. Mr Zappacosta said his meeting with police was to discuss several issues, including the reports of teenage prostitution.
Teen prostitution examined in Griffith. The Sydney Morning Herald. Investigations had turned up next to nothing, he said. Local police also told The Area News they had only heard rumours but no one had come forward. Mr Zappacosta said he did not believe it was as bad as it was being made out to be.
