§ Mr. CaplinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) civil and (b) criminal prosecutions were made in relation to prostitutes calling cards in telephone boxes in 1997 and 1998. [78047]
§ Mr. BoatengThis information is not readily available. There are several pieces of legislation under which a person may be charged for offences relating to placing prostitutes cards in telephone boxes. Home Office statistics do not indicate which prosecutions relate to prostitutes cards. Civil injunctions are not recorded centrally.
§ Mr. CaplinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consult on the possibility of making the placing of prostitutes calling cards in telephone boxes a specific criminal offence. [78046]
§ Mr. BoatengYes. My reply to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) on 2 March 1999,Official Report, column 631, said that the Home Office will shortly be issuing a consultation paper on new measures to tackle the problem of prostitutes cards in telephone boxes which will look at options for changing the law to enable those who put cards in telephone boxes to be dealt with more effectively.