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One of the city's most senior decision-makers refused to be drawn on whether she thought its controversial approach to on-street sex work had been a success, insisting: "I'll leave that for residents to decide".

The comment by Leeds City Council deputy leader Debra Coupar followed an announcement that it planned to the Managed Approach - a scheme which allows prostitutes to operate in a part of Holbeck at certain times without fear of arrest.

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The scheme was introduced back in 2014 with the intention of making communities safer, and increasing the amount of support received by street sex workers.

A protest held in Holbeck in 2018 in opposition to the Managed Approach to on-street sex work. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

It has since been dogged by controversy, with many complaining of antisocial behaviour and non-sex workers being approached for business in residential parts of Holbeck.

But council and police officers say the scheme has helped reduce the number of sex workers operating in the streets of Leeds.

Coun Coupar said: "On the judgement of success or otherwise, I would leave that to the community to decide whether they feel it has been successful.

"We have had many benefits that have come from the Managed Approach. We have had the dedicated policing resources and cleansing resources to deal with issues relating to the managed approach."

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