Barcelona City Hall on Wednesday approved tighter control of prostitution and a complete ban of the sex trade on the streets.

Prostitution is currently in something of a legal vacuum in Spain. Current rules approved in 2006 sanction soliciting clients in the street only under certain circumstances, such as if it takes place within 200 meters of a school or if the sexual act itself occurs in a public street.

Prostitutes who refuse to move on when told to do so by the police face fines of up to 750 euros, while the penalty for having sexual relations in the street is between 1,500 and 3,000 euros.

Under the new rules, as of August police will no longer have to issue a formal warning to prostitutes and their clients to cease their activities. Fines will be imposed on the spot

The new regulations were passed with the support of the center-right nationalist CiU group and the conservative Popular Party, but rejected by left-leaning parties.