Police and crime commissioner candidate joins calls to end the red light sex zone in Holbeck

A candidate for the role of West Yorkshire Police Crime Commissioner has thrown his weight behind recent calls to end the legal red light zone in Holbeck.
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Coun Matthew Robinson said there needed to be "an end in sight" and a focus on tackling the underlying issues of sex work in Holbeck rather than leaving it to continue forever.

The Conservative councillor has joined party colleagues in calls to end the red light zone, which has come under fresh scrutiny after claims were made by school girls that they had been approached in the street for sex while they were walking home from school.

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Protests in Holbeck have been on-going against the red light zone in Holbeck.Protests in Holbeck have been on-going against the red light zone in Holbeck.
Protests in Holbeck have been on-going against the red light zone in Holbeck.
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Coun Robinson added: "Today I am calling for an exit strategy and for a new plan that can be shared with the people of Holbeck and Leeds. At the moment there doesn’t seem to be a plan to reduce and ultimately end the managed zone – unless the long term aspiration of the Council is to keep the managed approach in perpetuity?

"The police, council officers, third sector bodies and others have worked to try help the vulnerable women involved and keep people safe but in the long term the managed approach must have an end in sight to reassure the community, tackle the underlying issues, focus on directing action and produce measurable outcomes.

“I’m concerned about the issues raised of young people being propositioned for sex and the worries raised by the pupils. I would encourage anyone in the area who feels threatened or observes unacceptable behaviour to get in touch with West Yorkshire Police and Safer Leeds."

Later today (Wednesday) a meeting of Leeds City Council is set to hear a proposal from Coun Amanda Carter calling for an exit strategy from the legalised zone - which was introduced in 2014 in partnership with Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police.

Coun Matthew Robinson has joined calls for an exit strategy to the managed approach.Coun Matthew Robinson has joined calls for an exit strategy to the managed approach.
Coun Matthew Robinson has joined calls for an exit strategy to the managed approach.
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If the council knocks back the white paper she says she will continue the campaign to get the zone scaled back at best.

She said: "We are looking for an exit strategy and for the area to be narrowed down. Personally I was so touched by what people are experiencing and in particular, children. There is no way that the council can say that it is alright, that is wrong on every level. It is wrong for young people to see that and that the council can say that it is alright and part of life.

"I feel for the prostitutes. Something traumatic has happened to them in life and driven them down this road to be hooked on drugs and alcohol and they need help getting out of it. There are two charities helping them but I am not sure they have enough resources.

"You have reached rock bottom when you get to that and it must be hard to get off but we have to help them as much as we can."

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Coun Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s executive member with responsibility for Safer Leeds, said: “We’ve made an ongoing commitment to listen very closely to the issues and concerns which have been raised from local residents, businesses and all stakeholders regarding the Managed Approach. We would again ask anyone who has any concerns in the community to please contact us so we can discuss and address any issues raised."

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