(1)The Street Offences Act 1959 (c. 57) is amended as follows.
(2)In subsection (1) of section 1 (loitering or soliciting for purposes of prostitution)—
(a)for “common prostitute” substitute “person”, and
(b)after “female)” insert “persistently”.
(3)In subsection (4) of that section after “section” insert “—
(a)conduct is persistent if it takes place on two or more occasions in any period of three months;
(b)any reference to a person loitering or soliciting for the purposes of prostitution is a reference to a person loitering or soliciting for the purposes of offering services as a prostitute;
(c)”.
(4)Omit section 2 (application to court by person cautioned for loitering or soliciting).
(5)In determining for the purposes of section 1 of the Street Offences Act 1959 (c. 57) (as amended by this section) whether a person’s conduct is persistent, any conduct that takes place before the commencement of this section is to be disregarded.