Kelly-Jay currently being arrested in Leeds

[BettyFloop]

She's live streaming on YT

@PronounssheRa

He was the police officer in charge

Thanks Tinsel. Uniformed and non uniformed officers, that's an interesting response to a small group of women.

Yes, I made that point upthread. If it really was just a non-political breach of public order/covid regs, why did they need a plain clothes police officer there (presumably acting on intelligence received prior to the event)?

The whole thing stinks to high heaven.

It's not safe for the women that live in that zone.

I suspect they had the plain clothes guy there on his own first and he called the uniformed guys.

Yes, I made that point upthread. If it really was just a non-political breach of public order/covid regs, why did they need a plain clothes police officer there (presumably acting on intelligence received prior to the event)?

The whole thing stinks to high heaven.

I agree. He was so aggressive, compared to the others.

Well prostitution isn't a safe way to get money anywhere.

He was so aggressive, compared to the others.

Probably embarrassed he called for backup for a tiny group of women lol

Most of the women and girls living in safe zones don’t engage in prostitution. They are still put at risk by the existence of the zone.

I'm sure women are giving bjs for a fiver all over the UK, but since that area is a safe zone, they go there rather than hide in dangerous parks or whatever. I doubt it's confined to Leeds.

The point about the safe zone [sic] is that not only has it made things no safer for the street prostitutes who work there (there was a murder within a matter of weeks of the supposed safe zone being started) it has (by turning the whole area into a wild-west, anything goes, any woman here is fair game area) made all women in Holbeck demonstrably unsafe.

Women and girls are being harrassed and sexually assaulted and nothing is being done because the punters are now there with the police's blessing (as opposed to the normal legal situation where kerb crawling is illegal).

Contrast this with Ipswich Council's zero tolerance policy which has made all women safer within Ipswich.

Most of the women and girls living in safe zones don’t engage in prostitution. They are still put at risk by the existence of the zone.

Is that what the protest was about today?

@SorryImKnew

I suspect they had the plain clothes guy there on his own first and he called the uniformed guys.

No it was the other way around.

@SorryImKnew

Most of the women and girls living in safe zones don’t engage in prostitution. They are still put at risk by the existence of the zone.

Is that what the protest was about today?

Yes , some of the speakers were from Leeds ReSisters, speaking about Holbeck. This is an issue they have been working on for some time.

I lived around the corner from a red light district in London and was propositioned in my pyjamas while standing outside a shop smoking, waiting for my partner who was inside the shop!

Is it a trial in Leeds? First I've heard of it.

If you campaigned about these issues rather than transwomen, I'd happily engage with the Feminism section.

Is that what the protest was about today?

Partially, yes I think. I'm pretty sure that some women going wanted to talk about the "managed zone". KJ mentioned it in her YouTube stream the other day.

If it really was just a non-political breach of public order/covid regs, why did they need a plain clothes police officer there (presumably acting on intelligence received prior to the event)?

He'd spoken to the organisers prior to the event.

Doesn't make sense for a plain clothes dude to show up. I'm sure he was there but just wasn't noticed until the others showed up.

If you campaigned about these issues rather than transwomen, I'd happily engage with the Feminism section.

Fantastic, you do as you please, but we're not all here with bated breath begging you to do so. Stop the merail, please.

Posie has played a blinder on this one, as always. That photo of the woman wearing the "Thought Criminal" t-shirt being bundled into a police van by two uniformed officers is a publicity coup in itself (I do hope the poor woman is okay).

It's clear to anyone with half a brain that this was a political protest. They put out posters before hand making clear it was a political protest aimed at challenging proposed changes to UK law and influencing public opinion and politicians' views on the matter. It's clear from the police over-reaction - having the whole operation directed by a plain clothes officer - that they actually knew this too. That footage will look very interesting in court.

I think the police have walked straight into Posie's carefully laid trap. I think Posie probably has a very strong case for wrongful arrest.

Well you'll certainly garner support with that attitude! Good luck.

Posie has played a blinder on this one, as always. That photo of the woman wearing the "Thought Criminal" t-shirt being bundled into a police van by two uniformed officers is a publicity coup in itself (I do hope the poor woman is okay).

Yes, I think it's an iconic shot.

If you campaigned about these issues rather than transwomen, I'd happily engage with the Feminism section.

We can do more than one thing. Nothing stopping you ignoring threads you're not interested in.

Be prepared to be called a SWERF though by the sex work positive crowd.

Hard to avoid when every thread on Feminism seems to be about transwomen. I haven't noticed any other topics.

Have you support from sex workers themselves or do they support the area?

It's clear to anyone with half a brain that this was a political protest. They put out posters before hand making clear it was a political protest aimed at challenging proposed changes to UK law and influencing public opinion and politicians' views on the matter. It's clear from the police over-reaction - having the whole operation directed by a plain clothes officer - that they actually knew this too. That footage will look very interesting in court.

I think the police have walked straight into Posie's carefully laid trap. I think Posie probably has a very strong case for wrongful arrest.

Yes, it will be interesting to see what happens now.

Is it a trial in Leeds? First I've heard of it.

It's been running for several years, there have been numerous news reports, not just in Leeds but nationally (including the BBC and Guardian).

If you campaigned about these issues rather than transwomen, I'd happily engage with the Feminism section.

We have. There have been numerous threads, letter writing campaigns (I've been in touch with my MP about it), fund raising for Nordic Model Now (nordicmodelnow.org) and grass roots organisations in Leeds.

In response to which, Leeds City Council commissioned an "independent" (my arse) study by a pro-prostitution academic which carefully neglected to ask local residents about the impact on them and came out with a "nothing to see here, move along now" conclusion.

Anyway, now you know about it, I'm glad you'll be getting involved - the link to Nordic Model Now should give you some pointers.