Prostitution
If you or someone you know has experienced prostitution read our advice and learn how to get support. You can also report it to us online, by phone, or in person
What prostitution is
Content warning: this page contains brief mentions of sexual activity and human trafficking
Prostitution is when a person sells sex for payment.
Payment does not always mean money. It could be drugs, alcohol, food, or a place to sleep.
Prostitution is usually split into two types:
- on-street: when the sale happens in public (often from a car)
- off-street: when someone arranges the sale away from public view (often using an agency or in a private building)
What’s legal in Scotland
Prostitution (the sale of sex) is not illegal in Scotland under certain circumstances. For example, a single person can sell sexual acts from a private home.
But it’s illegal to:
- run a brothel (any private building where several people sell sex)
- be in a public place with an aim to buy or sell sex
- traffic people for sexual exploitation
- persuade or force someone to sell sex
How to report illegal prostitution
If you want to tell us about illegal prostitution, abuse, trafficking, or any other crime you can report it online, by phone, or in person.
Get support from other organisations
You can get support from other organisations:
- Routes Out offers support for women in prostitution
- Encompass lists support services available to people in prostitution (including help with things like housing, legal issues, addiction, poverty, and debt)
- NUMbrella Lane is a safe place for people in prostitution to connect, improve wellbeing, and get support
- Rape Crisis Scotland has support for people who experience sexual violence (phone: 08088 010302, email: support@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk)
- NHS sexual assault response coordination service gives forensic medical exams and medical care following sexual crime
- Victim Support Scotland gives support and information to anyone affected by crime or has to go to court (phone: 0800 160 1985)