Dutch police will share their experience with Liverpool officers

There are plans to introduce a similar scheme in Liverpool as a way of dealing with the issues of sex-worker safety, and kerb-crawling.

The zone would have a health clinic and would be managed and policed by specially-trained workers.

The Home Office is still considering whether to allow the pilot scheme to go ahead.

On Thursday and Friday Utrecht Police are giving local people, the police and councillors the opportunity to ask how their project works.

Great opportunity

Councillor Flo Clucas, executive member for community safety, said: "We are looking towards the way in which Utrecht and Doncaster manage prostitutes, as we believe both places are perceived as international models of good practice.

"It is a great opportunity for us to learn about their experiences in managing sex workers and it will give us an invaluable insight into the challenges and opportunities that face Liverpool.

"The proposed managed zone is an important issue for many people in the city and a lot of people have questions and concerns that they want answered."

Utrecht Police Officer, Pieter Valkenburg, who works on the managed zone in the Netherlands, said: "We are really looking forward to working with Liverpool to help them develop plans for a managed zone."