Advice needed re. Leeds “managed zone”

[Gacapa]

Following on from this thread earlier:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3315768-New-article-on-Leeds-red-light-district

The executive member at the time, who was responsible, has held his hands up and wants to hear the thoughts of feminists here on MN Feminism boards. I’ve spoken to him today and will show him the thread. His position has completely changed.

What should now be done in Leeds?

He needs to read up on the Nordic model.

He needs to talk to Ipswich police and ask their thoughts on how to resolve this - they have done good work in their area.

He needs to be able to devote significant resources to the area - there will be multi agency work needed to undo the damage done. There will be women and girls there who have been trafficked in - don’t let those girls just be shipped on out somewhere else. Get specialist advice on how to deal with traffickers.

There will need to be sharps-safe environmental clean up teams as well.

This is absolutely not my area of expertise - I’d suggest he look at the original threads as well and look for contacts via there

Placemarking

Haven't got any technical expertise to add but I used to live off Spencer Place and the idea the women there had any freedom of choice (whether or not uoj take pimps out of the question) was a joke.

Nothing to add, I'd say Nordic model and all that's in the second post, but fantastic work.

Nice to think something good is coming from posting in this area of mn.

I'd like to know if this policy has had any impact in any way on local school teens - did they know, does there need to be some input there to help understand why it was a fuck up?

Apologies for atting you all but you may want to add your voices to this @djlippy @fermatstheorum @Celinedayjardnz

OP also the Joanna project: joannaproject.co.uk

Kudos to Mark Dobson for acknowledging this isn’t working and acting accordingly.

Just to clarify that he’s no longer the executive member, so he’s looking to push the administration on this.

Info on NM and Ipswich passed on. I’ll keep updating here.

Do we have any Leeds women who would be interested in bringing a deputation to full council?

The blog about living in that area has gone. I used to live in an unofficial red light district and have 4 main concerns;

1. What is being done to locate and rescue trafficked women, and prosecute the pimps?

2. Many of the women who work that area aren't going to just stop. They need another way to earn.

3. Services such as the police and ambulance treat any women who lived there as if they are a prostitute. Its going to take a long time and concerted effort to change that culture.

4. Punters aren't going to stop harassing women in that area until they are dissuaded by police. In the meantime if they don't get what they came looking for they can get nasty.

Ok, if I/we can work up a proposal he will back it and put to the administration. Then work up support.

He is on board with NM and liaising with Ipswich.

Here’s what my understanding is from a frank discussion. He was sold the proposal and adopted it because he genuinely thought at the time it would help the prostitutes and make them safer. I think there are a significant number of people who have completely changed their views due to the hard work of feminists on here and elsewhere. All we can do now is accept that he’s listened and learned and - rare in politics - admitted he got it wrong.

A deputation to council specifically focusing on the Nordic Model and Ipswich would be an ideal start.

Oh and btw, he refused to go to “gender identity” training because “it isn’t an identity, it’s a tool of patriarchy”.

Educate, educate, educate. Both women and men.

There’s a talk on this in Leeds next week

One other lead to follow up would be links with the Scottish parliament - AFAIK, Scotland has adopted the Nordic model.

The latest, it's all over local facebook pages, but that's a huge link so, less info but short link
www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/crime/holbeck-stabbing-investigation-continues-as-leeds-police-release-four-people-arrested-1-9284387