Introduction

Within Britain's current legal framework prostitution is conceived of as a public nuisance. The position of the prostitute is ambiguous in relation to the law: the sale of sex is not an offence but many of the activities connected with it are. This framework was created by the Report on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution (Wolfenden et al. 1957). The Wolfenden Report aimed to apply a more rigid distinction between law and morality, claiming that however immoral prostitution may be, it was not the law's business. It also aimed to rationalise resources directed towards the control of prostitution while increasing the certainty of convictions. Finally, it encouraged a more systematic policing of the public sphere in order to remove the visible manifestations of prostitution in urban centres (Matthews 1986: 188–9). Within this legal framework two key pieces of legislation were swiftly introduced: the Sexual Offences Act 1956 and Street Offences Act 1959. While the Sexual Offences Act deals with the various activities, relationships and behaviours that might aid, manage, exploit or encourage prostitutes, the Street Offences Act deals directly with prostitutes and prostitution and regulates the manner and means by which prostitutes and their clients can contact each other (Phoenix 1999: 19–20). These two pieces of legislation proved successful in removing prostitution from view and encouraging the growth of more clandestine and commercialised operations (Matthews 1986: 189). However, since the 1970s there has been increasing dissatisfaction with the liberalism associated with Wolfenden.