Hot on the heels of Granada and Sevilla, Málaga is also drafting a new city ordinance which will see fines for both prostitutes and their clients who carry out their activities or negotiate for sexual services on the streets of the city.
In Granada, the fine for prostitution in public places is €3,000 and in Sevilla there is a fine of up to €1,500 for the procurer of sexual services and, once again, a €3,000 fine for those who have sex in public. Málaga has not yet decided upon the level of fines but there will be penalties for both the prostitute and the client.
The Council is only contemplating action as regards prostitution on the streets, not in other areas, and they are responding to numerous complaints received by residents in Alameda de Colón, calle Tomás Heredia and calle San Lorenzo and several other streets.
Street prostitution used to be prominent in Atarazanas, Alameda Principal and Ordóñez, but this was curbed a few years ago. The Guadalhorce industrial estate remains a centre for prostitution, particularly for Spanish, African and Eastern European women and men.
A disturbing development on the industrial estate is the presence of minors paying for the services of the ladies.
The new ordinance is well underway and has taken into account the new legislation in both Granada and Sevilla but still needs to be approved. However, it is expected to come into force ‘very shortly’.