BRUSSELS — A client of an Antwerp prostitute has been fined for the first time under the city’s crackdown against illegal street prostitution.

The man was caught in the city district Antheneumbuurt two weeks ago, but the news was only publicised on Wednesday.

“The man was caught on the night of 17 February during a police operation,” Antwerp police spokesman Sven Lommaert said.

“He confessed immediately that he had picked up a girl to have sexual contact.”

The man was ordered to pay a fine of EUR 100, Flemish public news service VRT reported.

The Antwerp City Council enacted a new law in January allowing police to impose fines not only on street prostitutes, but their clients as well.

The first prostitute was fined several months ago under laws banning street prostitution in the Flemish city.

Prostitution may only be carried out in the city’s tolerated zone, located in the Schipperskwartier.

However, the only form of prostitution allowed is window prostitution.

[Copyright Expatica News 2006]

Subject: Belgian news