Sexual offences act 2003, cross heading Prostitution is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 20 june 2025 There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Check out to know is prostitution legal in england and discover the laws, rights, and penalties affecting sex workers in this detailed blog. In the uk, people are legally allowed to pay for sex if the person is over 18 and hasn’t been forced into prostitution
In northern ireland, it is illegal to buy sex But it is illegal to: The offence requires control or influence over the other person and that the offender contemplated or desired that the act would ensue This offence is aimed at individuals who cause prostitution through some form of “fraud or persuasion” It cannot be committed if the “other person” was already a prostitute either in the uk or abroad. This rights sheet aims to ensure that sex workers, no matter where we work, know the law, how to protect ourselves from arrest, how to defend ourselves if charged, and where to get help
