(1)It shall be an offence for a [F1person] [F2aged 18 or over] [F3(whether male or female) ] [F4persistently] to loiter or solicit in a street or public place for the purpose of prostitution.
[F5(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of an amount not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale, F6 . . . or, for an offence committed after a previous conviction, to a fine of an amount not exceeding level 3 on that scale. ]
[F7(2A) The court may deal with a person convicted of an offence under this section by making an order requiring the offender to attend three meetings with the person for the time being specified in the order (“ the supervisor ”) or with such other person as the supervisor may direct.
(2B)The purpose of an order under subsection (2A) is to assist the offender, through attendance at those meetings, to—
(a)address the causes of the conduct constituting the offence, and
(b)find ways to cease engaging in such conduct in the future.
(2C)Where the court is dealing with an offender who is already subject to an order under subsection (2A), the court may not make a further order under that subsection unless it first revokes the existing order.
(2D)If the court makes an order under subsection (2A) it may not impose any other penalty in respect of the offence.]
F8(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4)For the purposes of this section[F9—
(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)]“street” includes any bridge, road, lane, footway, subway, square, court, alley or passage, whether a thoroughfare or not, which is for the time being open to the public; and the doorways and entrances of premises abutting on a street (as hereinbefore defined), and any ground adjoining and open to a street, shall be treated as forming part of the street.
F10(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1Word in s. 1(1) substituted (1.4.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 16(2)(a), 116(1) (with s. 16(5)); S.I. 2010/507, art. 5(c)
F2Words in s. 1(1) inserted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 68(7), 88(1) (with s. 86(11)); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(l)
F3Words in s. 1(1) inserted (1.5.2004) by Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42), s. 141, Sch. 1 para. 2; S.I. 2004/874, art. 2
F4Word in s. 1(1) inserted (1.4.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 16(2)(b), 116(1) (with s. 16(5)); S.I. 2010/507, art. 5(c)
F5S. 1(2) substituted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 82), s. 71
F6Words in s. 1(2) repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt.XIV.
F7S. 1(2A)-(2D) inserted (1.4.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 17(2), 116(1); S.I. 2010/507, art. 5(d) (with art. 6)
F8S. 1(3) repealed (1.1.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8)(8), Sch. 7 para. 14, Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2005/3495, art. 2(1)(m)(u)
F9Words in s. 1(4) inserted (1.4.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 16(3), 116(1) (with s. 16(5)); S.I. 2010/507, art. 5(c)
F10S. 1(5) repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1989 (c. 43), s. 1(1), Sch. 1