No plans for second Holbeck style managed zone in says Leeds Council

Leeds Council responded to 'recent social media posts' regarding a potential second zone in the city.

The council clarified that the defined area of Holbeck was the only location covered by the scheme.

The zone was put in place to 'tackle a specific long-term issue with sex work in the area', the council said.

In a statement, the council said: "In response to recent social media posts, we wish to clarify that the defined area of Holbeck is the only location covered by the Managed Approach scheme.

"This was put in place to tackle a specific long-term issue with sex work in this area.

"There are categorically no plans for a Managed Approach type scheme in Crossgates or indeed any other area of Leeds."

Dubbed Britain's first legal red light zone, the Managed Approach to street sex work in Leeds has been the subject of considerable debate since it began in 2014.

The authorities are often reluctant to discuss the finer details of how it operates on a day-to-day basis amid concerns that doing so would advertise the scheme to those seeking to buy sex.

But the majority of local business, residents and other stakeholders recently consulted agreed that it was important for people to understand exactly where the Managed Approach does and does not apply.

It follows years of complaints about those engaged in street sex work soliciting on streets beyond the bounds of the scheme and reports of men making unwelcome approaches to women not involved in street sex work when they are on residential streets in the Holbeck area.

What is the Managed Approach?

The Managed Approach allows street sex workers to ply for trade without fear of arrest, in a particular area of Leeds within agreed hours.

It aims to:

1. Reduce the problems caused by street prostitution to residents and businesses

2. Better engage with street sex workers to improve their safety and health, with a view to enabling them to exit this way of life

3. Reduce the prevalence of street sex working in Leeds

When did it begin?

The scheme was introduced as a 12-month pilot back in October 2014 by the community safety partnership Safer Leeds - a group which includes Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police.

It attracted national media attention following the murder of sex worker Daria Pionko in December 2015. Originally from Poland, the 23-year-old lived in Leeds with her boyfriend and was a sex worker in the Holbeck area of the city.

How does it work?

The rules of the 'managed approach' are kept under review, with the current rules being:

1. No offences will be tolerated at any time within residential areas

2. No offences will be tolerated between 6am and 8pm

3. No offences will be tolerated outside businesses which are operating

4. Drug use, trafficking, organised crime and coercion will at no time be tolerated

5. Crime, public order and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated

6. Indecency will not be tolerated at any time

When it began, Safer Leeds said a 'three strikes’ policy meant rule-breakers would get a warning for a first breach, a caution for a second and be arrested for a third infringement.

Four police officers and PCOS were also assigned to a 'dedicated team' to oversee the sex workers in the Holbeck area from December 2017.

Where does it apply?

The map above shows the streets where the Managed Approach operates during the agreed hours.

Braithwaite Street

Bridge Road (between Water Lane and Sweet Street)

Coleman Street

Croyden Street

Holbeck Lane

Lord Street (between Coleman Street and Whitehall Road East)

Lord Terrace

Low Hall Place

Rickard Street

Spence Lane

Springwell Court

Springwell Road

Springwell Street (partial)

Springwell View

Sweet Street West (between Bridge Road and Bath Road)

Sydenham Street

Triumph Close

Water Lane (between Holbeck Lane and Springwell Road)

Whitehall Road East (between Spence Lane and Rickard Street)

Wortley Lane

Why was the Managed Approach introduced?

The city's unofficial red light district had moved to the area around Water Lane over the years, and was creating problems for people living in Holbeck as it crept further into nearby residential areas.

Various approaches focused mainly on enforcement - either against sex workers or their clients - had been tried over the years, but had failed to make any significant impact on the level of street sex work in the city.

Those in favour of the 'managed approach' say it is helping support services and charities to engage with the often vulnerable women involved in sex work and has increased the reporting and successful prosecution of crimes committed against sex workers.

What support is available to street sex workers?

The charity Basis Yorkshire has seven workers who supports a small number of sex workers with what are described as "highly complex needs and chaotic lives".

Other agencies including the Holbeck-based Joanna Project and alcohol and drug service Forward Leeds give support on a regular basis.

Further support is given by the city's commissioned sexual health service, Housing Leeds and West Yorkshire Police's designated sex worker liaison police officer.

Isn't it just a legal red light zone?

Safer Leeds says it is "categorically not a legal red light zone" and is actually about managing and lessening the impact of existing activity, not introducing something new.

It stresses that the strategy and partners involved do not have the power to change the law, nor to legalise offences related to sex work.

What do people living nearby think?

Following the murder of Daria Pionko, a review was conducted into the future of the 'managed approach'. Its findings were published in July 2016 when it was announced that the scheme would continue but with some small changes to the way it was run.

A third of residents and businesses who responded back then wanted to see it scrapped, but the majority thought it should continue in some form.

However, complaints from residents have steadily increased over the past year and prompted a series of street protests.