A British Government minister has politely asked California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to shut down a US-based website which offers a rather peculiar service.

PunterNet.com allows, well, punters to rate or should we say review prostitutes. So it is a lot like many tech review sites, only reviewers pay to do the reviews - they don't get paid for them, unless they score some payola on the side.

Harriet Harman, minister for women and equality feels the site fuels the demand for prostitution and that it is a sinister development in the trade and exploitation of women. Obviously Harman is right, as the site treats women like objects, as if it were rating a hotel, restaurant, or some sort of graphics card.

"Punternet has pages and pages of women for sale in London," said Harman. "Surely it can't be too difficult for 'The Terminator' to terminate Punternet and that's what I am demanding that he does."

Prostitution is legal in Britain, but some forms of advertising are not, and neither is soliciting. Harman said the Government would push legislation which would make having sex with a prostitute controlled by a pimp a criminal offence.

Punternet responded to Harman's initiative with an open letter, claiming it is not breaking any laws and that there are many similar sites 'with the same subject matter'.

More here.