Overview

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

Description

The Advertising of Prostitution (Prohibition) Bill criminalizes the publication or distribution of advertisements for brothels or prostitution services. This includes any form of advertising, from print media to online platforms.

Key Aspects:

• Prohibition: It is an offense to advertise brothels or the services of prostitutes, or anything reasonably inferable as such.
• Penalties: Violators face fines, the amount of which will be determined by the Secretary of State.
• Defense: A defense exists for publishers who unknowingly distributed the advertisement and had no reason to suspect its nature.
• Corporate Liability: Corporations can be held responsible if the offense was committed with the consent or approval of a director or other controlling authority.
• Interpretation: "Advertisement" is defined broadly, encompassing various media; "publish" and "distribute" are defined as actions targeting the public or a section thereof.
• Extent: The bill applies only to England and Wales.

Government Spending

The bill does not specify any direct government spending figures. However, there will be costs associated with enforcement, such as investigating offenses and prosecuting offenders.

Groups Affected

• Sex workers: The bill may negatively impact their ability to find clients.
• Brothel owners: The bill directly prohibits their advertising activities.
• Advertising agencies and media outlets: They face potential legal liabilities if they unknowingly publish or distribute prohibited advertisements.
• Law enforcement: Increased workload in investigating and prosecuting offenses under this bill.

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