A group of prostitutes in London's Soho, protesting at the threat of eviction by Westminster council, have this week found surprise backing from a local vicar, business leaders and 10 thousand signatories to their petition.
Such tolerant relationships between sex workers and their communities have long been exemplified in France, as any tourist who's wandered around Paris's red light districts will know. But today the French Parliament will give its final approval for a new law which will see the country's 15 thousand prostitutes facing hefty fines and prison sentences. Rachel Schofield reports on why France's Home Secretary, Nicolas Sarkozy, is taking this hardline approach.
