{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sexual-offences-act-2003/section-53A",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sexual-offences-act-2003/section-53A.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2003/42",
  "legislation_title": "Sexual Offences Act 2003",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sexual-offences-act-2003",
  "path": "section/53A",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "53A",
  "heading": "Paying for sexual services of a prostitute subjected to force etc.",
  "text": "(1) A person (A) commits an offence if—\n(a) A makes or promises payment for the sexual services of a prostitute (B),\n(b) a third person (C) has engaged in exploitative conduct of a kind likely to induce or encourage B to provide the sexual services for which A has made or promised payment, and\n(c) C engaged in that conduct for or in the expectation of gain for C or another person (apart from A or B).\n(2) The following are irrelevant—\n(a) where in the world the sexual services are to be provided and whether those services are provided,\n(b) whether A is, or ought to be, aware that C has engaged in exploitative conduct.\n(3) C engages in exploitative conduct if—\n(a) C uses force, threats (whether or not relating to violence) or any other form of coercion, or\n(b) C practises any form of deception.\n(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 53A inserted (1.4.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009, {ss. 14}, 116(1); S.I. 2010/507, art. 5(a) (subject to art. 6)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/section/53A",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:17:48.870823+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}