The Rev Roger Simpson asks if we need any more sex shops?

Funnily enough, having lived in York all my life, I don't know of the "others" he mentions nor do I read about them causing any nuisance, public order offences, or being found guilty of serving any one under age.

Neither do I read that a perpetrator of a sexual assault committed the offence while "consuming large volumes of indecent images, your honour" bought at one of these sex shops.

I believe the proprietors of these shops offer a service to those who, God forbid, choose to read stories or view images of a sexual nature, in a responsible manner and in the privacy of their own homes.

These proprietors appear to go about their business quietly and without the need for extra policing, ASBOs or door supervision etc.

It is not illegal to sell these products. I would sooner have all these types of products behind the doors of one of these shops than being displayed in my local shop.

Some of the daily papers should be sold in these shops, not openly displayed for even the very young to see.

I should like to encourage these well-maintained fronted shops which no doubt replace some of the eyesore derelict shop fronts we have now defacing the streets of York.

R Lund,

The Wandle,

Acomb, York.

Updated: 09:26 Saturday, March 05, 2005