‘How long before a child is abducted?’ – Leeds councillors clash over Holbeck managed zone

A fierce debate took place during a meeting of Leeds City Council, which saw the ruling Labour administration accused of allowing violence against women to continue and putting children at risk by continuing to support the zone.

Labour councillors conceded that the scheme was “not perfect”, adding that work needed to be done to improve it, while accusing the Tories of using the issue for “political point-scoring”.

Pupils and a headteacher from a local school this week spoke out against the zone, with some saying they had been solicited on their way to or from school, leading to fresh fears for their safety as the evenings become longer over the winter months.

Introduced in 2014, the managed zone permits street sex work to take place overnight in certain parts of Holbeck, in exchange for extra council and police support for those affected. An independent report published earlier this year recommended that the zone should remain in place.

A motion, known as a white paper, was put forward by Conservative councillors this week, calling on the authority to look for an “exit strategy” to end the managed zone.

Presenting the Conservatives’ motion, Coun Amanda Carter told a full Leeds City Council meeting: “We now have evidence of how it has worked in practice, and the direct lived experiences of the local communities.

“One child said ‘it’s hard living in Holbeck – prostitutes getting into cars makes me feel vulnerable. It’s not managed at all. We are approached.’ What children are experiencing in Holbeck is not just wrong, it’s dangerous.

“How long before a child is assaulted, abducted or raped? The prostitutes in Holbeck have mental health issues, addictions to drugs and alcohol and are controlled by men. Their life is short and filled with violence committed by punters and pimps.

“How do parents even begin to explain that it isn’t right and it is not safe, even though the council are openly allowing this to happen.

“Don’t we have a duty to protect children? It’s only a matter of time before something terrible happens to a child.

Responding to the motion, Leeds City Council deputy leader Coun Debra Coupar (Lab) said: “I hope everybody in this council recognises that on-street sex working is a difficult and sensitive issue.

“Safeguarding is a top priority, and that goes for anyone who might be impacted by it. If you have any concerns about activity, Coun Carter, then can I urge you to report those to the police.

“The managed approach came about to mitigate the impact on local residents because on-street sex working was already taking place in the local area. Previous police approaches, which were mostly enforcement-led, had been found to achieve very little.

“It’s why we considered and progressed the managed approach. I am pleased with the work so far – it was not an easy start and it has not been an easy journey, but there is an overwhelming feeling that things have got better from almost everyone involved.”

She added work had taken place with police to make people in the area feel safer, and that the independent review had spoken to numerous local people about the issues, and that recommendations in the report were being acted upon.

Seconding Labour’s amendment, Coun Andrew Scopes said the council was “working through” recommendations, adding another report, entitled “listening well” was in the process of being finalised.

He added: “We need to work hard to ensure residents’ voices are heard, not outside pressure groups on either side of the debate.

“The managed approach is not perfect by any means, but I believe it is the best solution within the legal framework. Getting rid of the zone does not get rid of prostitution – as we’ve seen during lockdown – it just limits our ability to reduce the impact on the local community, as well as the people who are selling their bodies.”

A fierce debate into the issue of street sex work then followed among councillors.

Garforth and Swillington councillor Sarah Field said: “This council needs to recognise prostitution as violence against women and needs to fund proper exit strategies. The council has to go after the demand, instead of free reign for these low-lives at certain hours, we need to ramp up prosecution so they finally face consequences.

“We need to catch them, out them and shame them.

“Coun Coupar, you are not dealing with sex work, you are dealing with modern slavery, and shame on every woman in this council who calls herself a feminist for supporting this.”

Labour Councillor Julie Heselwood said: “We all acknowledge the managed approach is not ideal – it is important we acknowledge it is not a permanent solution either. But it is the solution that we need at the moment, and the solution that is making things better.

“If we were to scrap the managed zone right now, the problems it was set up to address would not just disappear, and women won’t stop on-street sex work.”

She claimed sex workers in the area now feel safer, as a greater proportion of crimes against women are now reported to the police, as they feel more confident that attackers will be prosecuted.

Summing up, Coun Carter said: “Coun (Judith) Blake, Coun Scopes, Coun Coupar – you should be utterly ashamed of yourselves. Maybe it’s just your well-known antipathy towards academies – and Gorse in particular – that has impaired your judgement.

“You have had six years to sort this out and you haven’t. Stop shouting to the world about how good the managed zone is, stop pretending it works and stop messing about with people.”

The Conservatives’ motion was rejected by Labour councillors, who hold a majority on the council.

Labour’s amended version of the white paper read: “Council welcomes the independent report in to the Managed Approach and notes the finding that the Managed Approach was viewed as an essential factor in better engaging with street sex workers to improve their safety and health.

“Council further notes the Managed Approach is not a permanent solution to on street sex work and continues to evolve to ensure any impact on local residents is reduced and sex workers are kept as safe as possible.

“Council also welcomes the improved communication and co-operation between Holbeck residents and those governing the management of the Managed Approach. However council notes there is more work to do and remains committed to carrying out further work to improve communication and co-operation in line with approved recommendations in the independent report. In addition the council has committed to considering the findings of the ‘Listening Well’ report when it is finalised.

“Council acknowledges there are varied and wide ranging views regarding on street sex working and council remains committed to building on the positive work highlighted in the independent review and continuing to listen, learn and engage with all stakeholders and the wider community of Holbeck.”