When voters in Beeston and Holbeck head to the polls on Thursday, it will be the first time in eight years the area's controversial sex zone hasn't been in place.
Introduced in 2014, the Managed Approach was billed as the country's first 'legalised red light district' and allowed prostitutes to solicit for punters at certain times overnight without the fear of being arrested.
It was aimed at making life safer for some of the city's most vulnerable women - and sex workers did feel more at ease voicing their concerns with police officers in the years that followed. However, it also brought major issues for local residents.
Watch: LeedsLive's documentary on the Holbeck Managed Approach
Dirty needles and used condoms were regularly found on residential streets, while schoolchildren were asked for sex in broad daylight.
Despite defending the zone in the face of fierce criticism for several years, Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police announced its sudden closure in June 2021. Sex worker charity Basis Yorkshire expressed its disappointment, saying the zone had been "a pioneering and compassionate approach to on-street sex work".
Although it has officially been scrapped, a number of issues persist and locals have said sex workers have quickly returned to residential streets now it is no longer policed as stringently. As LeedsLive walked around the area to speak to residents this week, we spotted two sex workers.
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One was leaning against an end-of-terrace house on a quiet residential street. Another stood on Top Moor Side as young children walked home from school. One man we spoke to revealed his sister was recently stabbed in the head by a sex worker, while another man said there are persistent problems with pimps prowling the streets.
The prevalence of the sex trade in the working-class suburb is still a major cause for concern for many voters, so we spoke to the candidates standing for election in Beeston and Holbeck ward to find out what they would do to try and resolve the issue.
Annie Maloney - Labour Party
Annie Maloney wants more measures to penalise punters who arrive in the area to pay for sex. She believes tackling this head-on will not only make things better for residents, but also for sex workers.
"I hear about people who praise the Managed Approach and other residents think it is the worst thing ever," she said. "At the end of the day it has to be about safety; the safety of women and the safety of residents.
"There needs to be a bigger clampdown on the people coming to the area to buy sex. The women aren't bad people and the residents aren't bad people.
"The safer the women are, the more we can work with charities in the area. There is a bigger issue around why these women are doing this, but we need these charities to be able to provide advice and food and showers."
At just 24, Annie is bidding to become the youngest Labour councillor in the city. Despite her age, she has been involved with the Labour Party for 10 years and said she has an "absolute passion to do this job for every single resident behind every single door in Beeston, Holbeck and Cottingley".
"People say: 'What do you know about the world?' but some people underestimate young people. Young people deserve representation. The current issues are very different from the issues of 20 years ago."
She also promised to tackle issues around parking on Leeds United matchdays and to give residents in Cottingley a stronger voice.
Nigel Perry - Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party candidate Nigel Perry has lived in the same house in Holbeck for his entire life. He told LeedsLive his life has been blighted by people involved in the sex industry for several years and said: "We need to find a solution to remove this from Holbeck permanently."
He said that sex workers have "suddenly came back to the residential areas [of Holbeck]" after the Managed Approach was shut down, but understands the sex trade will not simply disappear overnight. Therefore, he proposes a new zone is set up on a remote industrial estate somewhere else in Leeds so it does not impact on the day-to-day lives of residents.
He added: "It's got to be done with the residents, the councillors and the police force. The girls have [now] got nowhere to go. They know this area and they think they are safe, so they are coming back into Holbeck.
"The sex workers are coming back into the residential areas. It has become more of an issue since they closed the Managed Approach down. We didn't have this many in the area [before], but they are on street corners all the time and they are affecting the people here daily."
Nigel also wants to shift local politics back to community issues. He said the recently-installed cycle lanes in Holbeck are "redundant" and instead wants to focus his energy on tackling flytipping, litter and anti-social behaviour "to bring back the spirit of the area so everyone can enjoy Beeston and Holbeck".
"I’ve lived in Holbeck for 54 years," he said. "I know the area and I know the community. If you want somebody to be representing you who fully understands what's on your doorstep, then put the cross in my box.
"I am prepared to listen to whatever your concerns are and work with you. I will never judge you and I will try my best to make life better Leeds 11."
Natalia Armitage - Conservative Party
Natalia Armitage acknowledged the situation with the sex workers is "really complicated", but said her experience of working with disadvantaged people across her background in teaching, the NHS and warehouses will allow her to find a "successful outcome".
"The problem is growing and it will grow more and more if it is allowed," she said. "I am not sure if getting rid of the women from Holbeck will work.
"We have tried to deal with it for a long time with lots of different approaches, but we need to work with the sex workers. We need to help the most vulnerable women and involve police, charities and even psychologists."
Speaking about her other policies, Natalia said she wants to reopen youth clubs and focus on restoring the area's proud heritage.
"I know there are a lot of issues but I would like to focus on taking children outside and making sure they are getting outdoors. It is a disaster for them to be stuck inside, especially after the pandemic.
"I am a people person. I listen to people and when I say I will do something, I always do that."
Mariana Polucciu - Green Party
Green Party candidate Mariana Polucciu said the entire community needs to come together to report incidents around the sex trade so the council and police can effectively control "hotspots".
"Residents need to keep being proactive in reporting incidents. We still need to be having regular meetings with residents, the police and council representatives so more police efforts and CCTV can be focused in certain areas.
"A lot more money and attention needs to be invested in therapies, rehab, community support work and policing. These are not issues we as a community can solve, but we can keep putting pressure on.
"We also need to keep campaigning for change in Holbeck, not to criminalise the women on the streets, but criminalise the pimps, punters and dealers who are a blight on our community."
Mariana has also promised to be a "servant and supporter" to local residents, rather than an "all-powerful boss". Her other main policies are to tackle fly-tipping, litter, crime and parking on Leeds United matchdays.
She added: "There are loads of great people in our communities, with different views on these big issues. I'm committed to listening to everyone and helping to develop positive discussion and dialogue across the community."
Emily Louise Reaney - Northern Independence Party
Northern Independence Party candidate Emily Louise Reaney was unable to answer questions specifically about the Holbeck Managed Approach. However, a representative for the party said her campaign is focussed on tackling the cost of living crisis and fighting for "the fair share the North deserves".
Emily said: "Doctor's surgeries and youth clubs are like endangered species because Westminster doesn't care about anything outside London. I will put you first, not Westminster."
The full list of candidates standing in the Beeston and Holbeck ward in the 2022 local election is as follows:
- Peter Andrews - Liberal Democrats
- Natalia Armitage - Conservative and Unionist Party
- Annie Maloney - Labour Party
- Nigel Perry - Social Democratic Party
- Mariana Polucciu - Green Party
- Emily Louise Reaney - Northern Independence Party
LeedsLive tried to contact Peter Andrews for an interview, but had not responded by the time of publication.
