MP CALLS FOR REGULATION OF PROSTITUTION

11.52.00am GMT Tue 25th Mar 2003

Dr Jenny Tonge, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, has called for better regulation of prostitutes so that they can receive proper medical supervision.

Reminding the Home Secretary that there had been a huge rise in the number of sexually transmitted diseases in the UK, and that AIDS was spreading across Europe from other countries, the MP said:

"It is no good pretending that prostitution will go away. It has always been there and because we are so squeamish about talking about them they do not receive proper medical supervision."

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"Women and young boys are forced into prostitution by people traffickers who also deal in arms and drugs.

"They get diseased, beaten up and sometimes murdered and we must speak out to protect them and our society."

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"Proper regulation is the only way forward."