Paris: 1,142 clients of prostitutes fined under new law

Paris region authorities say 1,142 clients of prostitutes have been fined in the French capital since a law that bans buying sex entered into effect in April 2016.

This law focuses the punishment on the client. It introduced a 1,500-euro ($1,700) fine that can rise to 3,750 euros for a second offence.

Paris region authorities said in a written statement seven prostitutes have entered a process to get out of the prostitution business with help of French authorities and organizations fighting against sex trafficking, a measure allowed under the new law.

Prostitution itself is legal in France — though brothels, pimping and the sale of sex by minors are illegal.

The legislation has been inspired by Sweden, which passed a similar measure in 1999.