It was passed following the publication of the Wolfenden report which discussed the rise in street prostitution at the time.

Until 2009, section 1(1) of the Street Offences Act 1959 used the old term "common prostitute" until Section 16 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 amended it to replace the term "common prostitute" with "person".

Section 4 established the maximum term of imprisonment for living on earnings of prostitution.

Section 5(4) provides that the Act came into force at the expiration of the period of one month that began on the date on which it was passed.

[5] The day (that is to say, 16 July 1959) on which the Act was passed (that is to say, received royal assent) is included in the period of one month.