Advertising a Premises Used for Prostitution

Advertising a Premises Used for Prostitution is an offence under Section 18 of the Summary Offences Act 1988 which carries a maximum penalty of 3 months in prison.

To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that:

1. You published an advertisement, or caused one to be published, or you erected a sign, or caused one to be erected, and
2. The advertisement or sign indicated that a premises is used, or that a person is available, for the purposes of prostitution

You are not guilty if you are able to satisfy the court, ‘on the balance of probabilities’, that you had lawful authority to engage in the conduct.

Duress is also a defence to the charge.