Overview

This bill aims to make it illegal to advertise prostitution in England and Wales. It defines advertising broadly and sets penalties for those found guilty, while including a defense for publishers who unknowingly publish such advertisements.

Description

The Advertising of Prostitution (Prohibition) Bill criminalizes the publishing or distributing of advertisements for brothels or the services of prostitutes. This includes any advertisement reasonably interpreted as promoting prostitution, regardless of the medium used (print, online, broadcast, etc.).

Key Aspects:

• Prohibition: It's illegal to advertise prostitution in any form.
• Penalties: Offenders face fines, with the exact amount to be determined by the Secretary of State.
• Defense: Publishers can argue they didn't know and had no reason to suspect the advertisement was related to prostitution.
• Corporate Liability: Companies and their directors can be held responsible if advertising occurs with their consent, approval, or negligence.
• Definition of "Advertisement": This includes a wide range of promotional material and media.
• Geographic Scope: The bill applies only to England and Wales.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending. However, there will likely be costs associated with enforcement and prosecution of offenses under the new law. No figures are available in the provided text.

Groups Affected

• Sex workers: This bill may significantly impact their ability to find clients.
• Brothel owners: They will face legal penalties for advertising their services.
• Advertising agencies and media outlets: They could face penalties if they unknowingly publish advertisements for prostitution.
• Law enforcement: Increased workload related to investigating and prosecuting offenses under the new law.

Powered by nyModel