Prostitute's caution

{{Short description|Type of police caution in the United Kingdom}}

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".{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Proceed Without Caution |url=https://prostitutescollective.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Proceed-Without-Caution-Report.pdf |website=English Collective of Prostitutes}} Unlike other forms of police cautions, they are not regulated by statute law, but are based on an agreement between British police chiefs.

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".{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=Sex Workers and the Law |url=https://www.release.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdf/publications/SEX_WORKERS_%26_THE_LAW_2017.pdf |website=release.org.uk}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Prostitution and Exploitation of Prostitution {{!}} The Crown Prosecution Service |url=https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/prostitution-and-exploitation-prostitution |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=www.cps.gov.uk}}

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.{{Cite news |last=Pearce |first=Matthew |date=2024-12-07 |title=Call for end to 'draconian' police cautions for sex workers that last until age of 100 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/dec/07/call-for-end-to-draconian-police-cautions-for-uk-sex-workers-that-last-until-age-of-100 |access-date=2024-12-08 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}{{Cite web |title='Prostitute's cautions' need reform, Assembly says {{!}} London City Hall |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-london-assembly-does/london-assembly-press-releases/prostitutes-cautions-need-reform-assembly-says |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=www.london.gov.uk |language=en-gb}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Miren |first=Frankie |date=2015-03-06 |title='Prostitute Cautions' Are Chaining British Sex Workers to the Streets |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/uk-sex-work-care-jobs-235/ |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}

Prostitute's caution

Description

References

See also