Prostitute's caution

A prostitute's caution is a type of police caution in the United Kingdom. They are issued to those the police consider to be "loitering and soliciting". ^[1] Unlike other forms of police cautions, they are not regulated by statute law, but are based on an agreement between British police chiefs. ^[2]

Description

Prostitute's cautions can be used as police as evidence of "persistence" for the criminal offence of persistently loitering or soliciting defined in Section1(1) of the Street Offences Act 1959, which states that "the conduct is persistent if it takes place on two or more occasions in any period of three months". ^[2]

There is no need for a criminal offence to be committed for one to be issued, nor is there any need for the person they are issued to admit to an offence. ^[3]

Unlike an ordinary police cautions, they do not expire until the person they are issued to reaches the age of 100, making them effectively life-long. ^{[4] [5]} Having a prostitute's caution can prevent its recipient (usually a woman) from taking on other forms of work that require vetting, such as work in the care sector. ^[6]

References

1. "Proceed Without Caution" (PDF). English Collective of Prostitutes. 2024.
2. "Sex Workers and the Law" (PDF). release.org.uk. 2017.
3. "Prostitution and Exploitation of Prostitution | The Crown Prosecution Service". www.cps.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
4. Pearce, Matthew (2024-12-07). "Call for end to 'draconian' police cautions for sex workers that last until age of 100". The Observer. ISSN   0029-7712 . Retrieved 2024-12-08.
5. "'Prostitute's cautions' need reform, Assembly says | London City Hall". www.london.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
6. Miren, Frankie (2015-03-06). "'Prostitute Cautions' Are Chaining British Sex Workers to the Streets". VICE. Retrieved 2024-12-08.

See also

• Common prostitute