HC Deb 26 February 1996 vol 272 cc393-4W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated in England and Wales as to the age of young girls soliciting for prostitution on the public highway; what has been the location of each such survey; and if he will make a statement. [16255]

Mr. Maclean

As part of an evaluation of a multi-agency initiative to reduce prostitution in Streatham, south London, an analysis was carried out of the details held on police files about prostitutes operating in the area in 1989–90. The ages of the women ranged from 16 to 48 years. Twenty-seven per cent. of the prostitutes were aged under 20, 50 per cent. were between 20 and 30 and 23 per cent. were over 30. A copy of this study, by Roger Matthews, is available in the Library.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many girls between the ages of 14 and 17 years have been charged with soliciting for prostitution in each of the last five years in England and Wales. [16256]

Mr. Maclean

The available information is given in the table:

The number of females aged 14 to 17 prosecuted for offences of 'a common prostitute loitering or soliciting for the purpose of prostitution'1
England and Wales
Number of females
Number of prosecutions
1990 396
1991 337
1992 283
1993 139
1994 186
1 An offence under section 1 of the Street Offences Act 1959.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of(a) men and (b) women charged with and convicted of living on immoral earnings in England and Wales in each of the last five years; how many were sent to prison; and how many were fined. [16257]

Mr. Maclean

The available information is given in the table:

The number of males and females prosecuted, the number found guilty and of those sentenced, the number fined and the number sentenced to immediate custody for selected offences, England and Wales 1990–94
England and Wales
Number of persons
Offence description 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
LIVING ON EARNINGS OF EXERCISING CONTROL, OVER PROSTITUTE1
Prosecutions
Males 73 87 89 63 78
Females 20 19 21 9 20
Total found guilty
Males 62 68 58 42 60
Females 14 11 12 7 10
Fined
Males 15 16 10 10 13
Females 10 6 6 1 2
Sentenced to immediate
custody
Males 22 31 21 22 21
Females 2 1 3
MAN OR WOMAN LIVING WHOLLY OR IN PART ON THE EARNINGS OF MALE PROSTITUTION2
Prosecutions
Males 1 1 1
Females 1
Total found guilty
Males 23
Females 1
Fined
Males
Females 1
Sentenced to immediate
custody
Males 2
Females
1 An offence under sections 30 and 31 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956.
2 An offence under section 5(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 1967.
3 The proceedings at magistrates courts which lead to offender being found guilty in the Crown court are not necessarily recorded in the same calendar year.