Prostitution law

[Andy008]

I was recently walking home through Southampton's red-light district. I went to cross the road, when out of the corner of my eye I spotted an unmarked police car (I had recognised the number plate). A rather dubious woman shouted if I had a cigarette, I shrugged my shoulders and carried on walking. Had I walked over to her and engaged in conversation, what would have happened?

(I honestly was just walking home!)

[andy hughes]

Nothing. The police have to be reasonably sure that solicitation has taken place. This would involve either the two of you walking away together, or one of you following the other after a minute or two. The police would then have followed, waited until you were - ahem - engaged in activity, and then arrested you both.

[qapmoc]

Hi andy, I am intrigued, do you always walk around with all the police ''unmarked'' number plate numbers in your head??

[Andy008]

Yes.

[tubeway]

I thought that everybody did

[Grunty]

Years ago, I used to drive an unmarked police car. Someone had fitted a loudspeaker to the front. It didn't help the car's purpose, but it saved everybody the trouble of memorising the numbers.