“When the police arrived, the things they saw and the things they took photos of all point (to) the very obvious truth that Cuddles was a brothel” – so said the counsel for the prosecution in the trial of the Mister Big behind the notorious Bearwood ‘sauna’.

What astounds me is that it apparently took until September last year for anybody to realise Cuddles was a place where more than one’s back could get rubbed. This place, along with many other similar establishments across the city (including three within half a mile of each other along the Bristol Road in Selly Oak) have been well known by, well just about everybody, for what kinds of services you can receive in them. So, if they’re actually bothered, why has it taken until now for the police to act?

More to the point, having raided Cuddles, are the police going to raid all the other brothels in the city, or was the action prompted by other motives?

Alternatively, isn’t it about time for legislation to accept that two (or three, or four…) consenting adults having sex with each other is no more a truly criminal act if cash is handed over than if it isn’t, and for the law to accept that it is far better for all concerned for it to take place in a clean, hygenic, safe indoor environment than out on the street?