Should prostitution be legalised in the North West?
Going Dutch – BBC North West s Close Up North. 7.30pm, BBC TWO (North West), 17 January It s been described as the oldest profession in the world – but is it time that prostitution finally became legitimate? The North West s Director of Public Health Professor John Ashton, based in Warrington, says: My job is to raise questions that affect the health of the population of this region and to make sure that these things are properly ventilated, even when the discussion can be uncomfortable and unsavoury. He argues that by legalising, controlling and regulating the sex industry it will be easier for the authorities to prevent the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases. He says it would also create a safer working environment for those involved. Professor Ashton says the authorities in this country could learn a lot from the Dutch – the sex industry there was legalised just over a year ago. He says: We understand that there may be some very practical things the Dutch have done that we d re
