ASBO marks man's card in London

Kevin Seabrook, 38, was jailed for two months at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on May 31 for persistently advertising for prostitutes in telephone boxes – or “carding”.

He was also given an ASBO, so when he is released from prison he will be banned from carrying any material that advertises prostitution or from entering any telephone boxes in England and Wales, except to make emergency calls. If he breaches the order he could face jail for up to five years.
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Note : It is estimated 13 million cards are deposited in Central London phone boxes each year, equating to 250,000 a week, or 35,600 cards a-day. The cards are placed in the boxes on behalf of the girls by people known as ‘carders’ who are frequently students or unemployed. It is a highly lucrative trade and the carders can earn an average of £30 for 100 or £200 per day for between 600 and 700 cards placed. The girls pay for the carders out of their own wages, and with thirteen million of them placed annually, these wages of sin are in the region of £4 million.

The Criminal Justice and Police Act was brought in on 1 September 2001 made displaying vice cards an arrestable and recordable offence. This gives Police authority to take direct action against carders, and those arrested can have their cards seized and destroyed and may face up to £5,000 fine or six months imprisonment.

Caroline Archers book ‘Tart Cards’ is published by Mark Batty Publisher, ISBN 0-9724240-40.
See Home Office Consulatation paper