Laws on prostitution have been easing over the year in the United Kingdom. However, the law is still quite ambiguous over what constitutes prostitution and the laws surrounding it. Prostitution is not illegal in the United Kingdom. However, many activities that surround prostitution, some of which you might think are fine, are illegal. If you are unaware of the laws, it is easy to become an offender without knowing it. Many people find it difficult to make sense of the Prostitution laws in the UK, as there are many terminologies involved.
We can take a look at a few below. The CPS Crown Prosecution Service clearly states that any escort under the age of 18 should be treated as a victim of sexual abuse. Any escort agency or client involved with an escort under the age of 18 can be prosecuted under sections 47 - 51 of the Sexual Offences Act , Rape and Sexual Offences Manual.
These sections deal with paying for sexual services of a child; causing or inciting child prostitution or pornography; controlling a child prostitute or a child involved in pornography; and arranging or facilitating child prostitution or pornography respectively. Irrespective of whether consent was given, she is classed as being too young to make that decision in the first place. In the eyes of the UK law she has been coerced, exploited and abused through prostitution.
So what is a brothel? A brothel can be either a residential or commercial property in which they are used by more than one man or women for the purpose of prostitution. It does not matter whether they work on the same day or not. It's not so much what goes on in the brothel that falls fowl of the law but more to do with the running and control of a brothel.
For example two escorts can work from the same property as long as they don't work together as part of a group or organisation. By running a brothel you are in fact, controlling and directly gaining from prostitution. The way the laws are set out is to punish those who try and make a business out of prostituting multiple girls. The UK laws are set out in such a way it makes it completely legal to act independently but not as a group or larger operation.
