Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Prostitution Control Act 1994 - SECT 5

PART 2 OFFENCES CONNECTED WITH PROSTITUTION

Causing or inducing child to take part in prostitution

5. Causing or inducing child to take part in prostitution



(1) A person must not cause or induce a child to take part in an act of
prostitution, whether as the prostitute or as the client or in any other
capacity, or to continue to take part in such acts.

Penalty: Level 5 imprisonment (10 years maximum).

(2) An offence against subsection (1) is an indictable offence.

(3) In a proceeding for an offence against subsection (1)-

   (a)  it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the accused knew
        that the person concerned was a child; but

   (b)  it is a defence to the charge for the accused to prove that, having
        taken all reasonable steps to find out the age of the person
        concerned, the accused believed on reasonable grounds, at the time the
        offence is alleged to have been committed, that the person concerned
        was aged 18 years or more.