Soliciting a Woman for Sexual Purposes in a Manner Causing Nuisance or Fear

Part of Orders of the Day — Sexual Offences Bill – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 10 May 1985.

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Photo of Mr Matthew Parris Mr Matthew Parris , West Derbyshire 11:30, 10 May 1985

I am grateful to my hon. Friend.

I know that I must take care not to mention section 32 of the 1956 Act, Mr. Deputy Speaker, but the circumstances in which it was thought right to prosecute under that legislation were confined to offences in public places, so I cannot see why the same should not apply to my hon. Friend's Bill. I do not know the exact situation with regard to foyers of cinemas, but in general I gather that the legal definition of a public place is wider rather than narrower than the general public would suppose. For instance, I believe that it may include pubs, clubs and other places that one would not generally regard as public places. I believe that it means places to which the public have access. That is just the type of place to which prosecutions for offences of this nature should apply.