A specialised anti pimp unit has been set up to tackle prostitution in Dublin’s north inner city.
The garda unit, which consists of three officers who work under an inspector, will be based at Store Steet Garda station.
The unit has been on surveillance missions watching brothels and prostitution networks in the city for several months.
All of the intelligence gathered is passed on to the recently established Child Protection and Human Exploitation Unit which is trying to build cases against pimps and brothel madams.
"They have carried out very few arrests since they were set up," said a senior source.
"They are looking at the prostitution issue from the point of view of human trafficking and the protection and safety of women working in the sex industry.
"This is all about gathering intelligence and constantly monitoring the prostitution network as it exists.
"A major aspect has been engaging with the women working as prostitutes - the gardai are not looking to prosecute or criminalise these women at all.
"Prostitution is a huge money-spinner for criminals, and that is who the focus is on."
The Sunday World previously exposed the high levels of prostitution in the city’s plush IFSC, located in Dublin 1.
READ: Posh prostitutes exposed in Dublin's IFSC as clampdown starts on city pimps
Street level prostitution has been tackled by Operation Kerb, which is still in operation, according to sources.
"Operation Kerb targets street-level prostitution which is a problem that goes away and comes back again, but Kerb is up and running at the moment,"