Asia's child sex trade could be curbed if the authorities 'named and shamed' the guilty, says a British policeman helping regional governments tackle the problem.
The sexual abuse of children was flourishing, yet public disapproval was a powerful deterrent that had not yet been properly deployed, said Anthony Crimmens, of the Northumbria force in northeastern England.
'Most people loathe child sex offenders. People attempt horrible crimes because they think they will get away with it. The fear of exposure is a terrible disincentive,' the assistant chief constable said.
British police last week agreed to help train their Thai counterparts in how to catch and convict paedophiles without further traumatising their victims.
Similar courses are being run in the Philippines and Sri Lanka, where officers from India and Nepal are also attending.
The Philippines and Britain are planning to launch a joint initiative against child prostitution at the next Asia-Europe meeting in London in April.
