You need to read this article about the Leeds red light district.

[DJLippy]

I read this blog about the Leeds red light district from someone who lives there. It's so illuminating. This needs a wider audience - please share on social media. This is what decriminalisation looks like.

littlegirlblue.blog/2018/05/25/living-in-the-red-light-district/

Maybe some of that article is right but no one makes a person live in Holbeck. Many areas in Leeds are just as rough or if not rougher. Harehills and Beeston are always in the news when it's crime related in Leeds.

Jesus this is depressing.

no one makes a person live in Holbeck

Is it their fault for living there? This is where people are put when they don't have a choice. Refugees, those on benefits, poor people. Why should they have to live somewhere like this and feel so unsafe in their own neighborhood?

Fuck! I've been writing on here about Holbeck and its so-called "safe zone" [sic - an oxymoron if ever there was one] for quite some time now. But it's worse now than my worst imaginings. For context, when I lived in Leeds, getting on for 20 years ago, I used to go to an open mic session in a pub in Holbeck sometimes - it was a bloody rough area, but not to the point of being a no- go area for women.

It's also worth remembering that within a couple of weeks of the "safe (for rapists) zone" opening, a prostitute called Dara Pionka.

If the author of that blog stumbled on this thread: please let your independent candidate know that if they set up a go fund me page, I'll certainly put some money their way - in memory of the Holbeck I used to know, and in memory of Dara.

I've watched the documentary series about Holbeck that's on iPlayer. It is unremittingly grim.

cookies have you any idea how hard it is to get a council house transfer in Leeds? And even if it were easy, what sort of society allows one area to become sacrificial lambs to protect the nicer areas rather than actually trying to make society work for everyone. Shame on you for that comment.

On BBCiplayer there is a documentary called Sex, drugs and murder. It is about the women working there and is horrifying.

Recently there was a news report on the BBC main news about a brothel being ran by an ex-policeman. The report showed a healthy-looking young woman who said she was having a great time etc etc. It struck me then that mainstream BBC coverage is still the happy hooker type but the other BBC doc is hidden away on Bbc3 iplayer.

I think I know which report is the most factual.

iPlayer series is available here. Yes, it's grim watching.

Iv watched this series it's very sad to watch

I've watched the documentary series about Holbeck that's on iPlayer. It is unremittingly grim.

Same here.

That is an excellent blog - informative but full of righteous anger.

Why does it need to be a race to the bottom?
Yep why don't they just move to a new area? Its not like they don't have lots of money that they don't need to just survive day to day so they can of course afford a new deposit and higher rent. And of course they will all pass a credit check and have garantors or steady well paid jobs after all, I bet none of them are on zero hours/benefits etc. Plus all that time and access to resources to better their environment, because we all know how people struggling to survive day to day for what ever reason have the energy and time to improve their local infrastructure and political representation.

That is horrifying , its dystopian

I've watched the documentary series about Holbeck that's on iPlayer. It is unremittingly grim

Me too. It was so unrelenting.

And Hilary Benn, what's he doing about it? Posh socialist. Bubble.

Been following this story

So depressing to read

What can we do ? Is all hope gone ?

Hello sisters. I am the person who wrote this blog. Thank you for reading it. I can assure you, many of us would rather live in Chapel Allerton, and if Cookiesfortheunicorn would like to pay my rent, I’d move in a flash. The local residents have set up a campaign group and they are the experts in this fight. My story is just my story. Thank you for caring about us, and thank you for prompting me to join mumsnet! saveoureyes.co.uk/

Am I overthinking?

Leeds seems to be the origin of some quite unsavoury attitudes to women.

West Yorkshire police & poise Parker.

Home of the founders of mermaids.

"Legalisation" of prostitution.

Umm.....can anyone connect the dots here?

Thanks for sharing, really interesting and worrying.

Fucking hell. I had no Idea about this.

I had a letter through from Labour today, they'd caught on that I'd cancelled my direct debit and are hoping I'll reinstate it. I can add this to my growing list of reasons why I am completely fucking done with them and their 'for the many'.

I agree with you, I am an outsider, I came here when I got married and yes, it shocked me how women are treated here. The Yorkshire police also shocked me, and I come from London. I thought the met were as bent as police get, but the police in Leeds beggar belief. They take full advantage of the fact we are poor and can’t afford solicitors, and can’t get legal aid. They know that and make full advantage of it. That is another story for another thread but yes, women are very cheap in Leeds. It appears systematic to me

How could an independent candidate in the local elections have stood against Hilary Benn? HB is an MP not a local councillor.

If women consent to sex by accepting money for it they are not being raped.

What happens if 999 is dialled.

DHis from a dreadful part of Leeds. His father was brought up in the grim back to backs.

I could well be very wrong but I seem to recall that Susie Green's husband was a police officer.

Can anyone confirm that?

MimmyMum is Leeds based.

@SodTheGreenfly

"Local elections". You make a fair point but how I read it was that the author was talking about the local result in the national election.

If that is the case I'd suggest if the OP knows the author that they clarify this point.

I've tried to google, but can't find any stats on voting in Holbeck wrt a general election vs local.

If women consent to sex by accepting money for it they are not being raped

Even if there's a pimp making them? Even if they've been trafficked or abused into this line of work. Even if the John takes more than was contractually agreed. Even if they don't get paid afterwards? What's that - theft? No. It's just wrong. This is not high class 'happy slappers' this is desperate women, working to feed a family, a pimp or a habit.