The Street Offences Act 1959 (7 & 8 Eliz. 2. c. 57) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom concerning street prostitution. It was passed following the publication of the Wolfenden report which discussed the rise in street prostitution at the time.
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to make, as respects England and Wales, further provision against loitering or soliciting in public places for the purpose of prostitution, and for the punishment of those guilty of certain offences in connection with refreshment houses and those who live on the earnings of or control prostitutes. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 7 & 8 Eliz. 2. c. 57 |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales[2] |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 16 July 1959 |
| Commencement | 16 August 1959[3] |
Status: Amended | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
Until 2009, section 1(1) of the Street Offences Act 1959 used the old term "common prostitute" until Section 16 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 amended it to replace the term "common prostitute" with "person".
Section 2 - Procedure
editSection 2 of the Street Offences Act 1959 provided that a woman cautioned by a constable in respect of her conduct in a street or public place could apply by way of complaint to an authorised court. The rule was that the woman's complaint was to be heard and determined in camera, unless the woman desired that the proceedings should be conducted in public.
Section 3 - Punishment of offences in connection with night cafes
editThe provisions in sections 3(2) to (5) had effect in relation to the punishment of offences to which section 26 of the Licensing Act 1949 applied.[4] This section was repealed by Part II of Schedule 9 to the Licensing Act 1961.
Section 4 - Punishment for living on earnings of prostitution
editSection 4 established the maximum term of imprisonment for living on earnings of prostitution.
Section 5 - Short title, repeal, extent and commencement
editSection 5(2) was repealed by Part XI of the Schedule to the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1974.
Section 5(4) provides that the Act came into force at the expiration of the period of one month that began on the date on which it was passed. The word "month" means calendar month.[5] The day (that is to say, 16 July 1959) on which the Act was passed (that is to say, received royal assent) is included in the period of one month.[6] This means that the Act came into force on 16 August 1959.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ The citation of this Act by this short title is authorised by section 5(1) of this Act.
- ^ The Street Offences Act 1959, section 5(3)
- ^ The Street Offences Act 1959, section 5(4)
- ^ The Street Offences Act 1959, section 3(1)
- ^ The Interpretation Act 1978, section 5 and Schedule 1
- ^ Hare v Gocher [1962] 2 QB 641, [1962] 2 All ER 673; Trow v Ind Coope (West Midlands) Ltd [1967] 2 QB 899 at 909, [1967] 2 All ER 900, CA.
External links
edit
The full text of Street Offences Act, 1959 at Wikisource
