Part of Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 4:15 pm on 24 June 2021.
“(1) A person (A) who gives, offers, or promises payment to any person to engage in sexual activity with a person (B) is guilty of an offence.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)—
(a) a ‘payment’ includes money, a benefit, or any other consideration.
(b) an activity is sexual if a reasonable person would consider that—
(i) whatever its circumstances or any person’s purpose in relation to it, it is because of its nature sexual, or
(ii) because of its nature it may be sexual and because of its circumstances or the purpose of any person in relation to it (or both) it is sexual.
(c) no offence is committed by a person (A) unless the sexual activity with the other person (B) involves—
(i) the person (A) being in the other person (B)’s presence, and
(ii) the person (A) touching the other person (B), or
(iii) the person (B) touching themselves for the sexual gratification of the other person (A).
(d) it is immaterial whether the payment is given, offered, or promised by a person engaging in the sexual activity, or a third party.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both;
(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.”—
This new clause criminalises buying sex and decriminalises anyone offering sexual services.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.