Independent review recommends keeping the Managed Approach

An independent review of the ‘Managed Approach’ to street sex work in Holbeck recommends that the approach remains in place and continues to evolve.

The report, published this morning (10 July 2020) was commissioned last year and undertaken by The University of Huddersfield. It concludes that the Managed Approach should continue stating:

“There are currently no alternative models or approaches that promise to be more effective and which fit within existing UK law on sex working.”

The report tracks the development of the Managed Approach from its introduction in 2014 with little resource, through the introduction of the dedicated reporting phone number, the intensive cleansing regime, and the dedicated Policing team in October 2018. Alongside these resources the report recognises the increasing input from and engagement from residents.

Researchers spoke to key agencies and organisations in the area, as well as many residents at various ‘Listening Well’ events. They reported that 70% of residents they spoke to agreed that:

“The Managed Approach should remain but needed to change in some way”

Professor Jason Roach who led the review elaborated on what he called the “incongruous” response from residents who recognised progress but didn’t associate that progress with the Managed Approach itself. He attended four Listening Well events personally, each attended by around 40 people, and commented:

“The penultimate question was always: Do you think things have got better over the last 6-8 months? To which most people would say yes. The last question was: Should the Managed Approach stay? No.”

He summed up residents’ views as “Things have got better, but we just don’t want on street sex working in Holbeck.”

Prof Roach stressed the empathy shown by the residents he spoke to towards sex workers, saying “The people of Holbeck are wonderful.”

12 sex workers engaged with the review, testament in itself to the levels of trust that been built with the Police and support agencies such as Basis Yorkshire through the Managed Approach. They appreciated the support they had been able to access and the fact they could now report crimes against them to the Police.

Another recommendation was the setting up a ‘future planning group’ to consider how street sex work was likely to change in the area due to development and other factors. The group should include residents as well as agencies and have an independent Chair.

Resourcing the Managed Approach currently costs about £200,000 a year. Asked whether that was sustainable in the current economic climate Cllr Coupar replied that before the pandemic the Council had been committed to maintaining that level of support, but she recognised that it would have to be reviewed alongside all Council spending in the light of Covid-19.

In a statement, Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s executive member with responsibility for Safer Leeds, said:

“We gave a firm commitment to the residents and community of Holbeck that an Independent Review would be undertaken into the Managed Approach. I welcome therefore that the Independent Review is complete and its results and are now publicly available.

“In terms of some of its key findings, the Independent Review acknowledges that managing street sex work is extremely challenging. Societal views continue to be emotive with the issue polarising opinion and provoking significant debate centred on morality and differing ideological perspectives as well as the effectiveness of practical interventions to address the many issues associated with street sex work. The review found that the Managed Approach was able to deal at least as positively if not more so with problems associated with on-street sex working than any other policing approaches in the UK. Secondly it also highlighted that the Managed Approach was viewed as an essential factor in better engaging with street sex workers to improve their safety and health. These recommendations relate to two key critical parts of our work and it is positive that the Review highlights that progress has been made in both of these important areas.

“Whilst welcoming these findings, it would at the same time be wrong not to acknowledge other elements of the report that are not so positive. I fully recognise that there continues to be strong feelings from those in favour and not in favour of the Managed Approach and that there are residents with concerns regarding its negative impact on their lives and on Holbeck as a whole. This cannot and will not be ignored by us.

“Whilst the review recognises the effect of the recent improvements made with the Managed Approach we are determined to ensure that we continue to evolve all areas of our work, and remain absolutely committed to listening, learning and engaging with all stakeholders and the wider community of Holbeck regarding the Managed Approach. We will do this in whatever form it might take moving forward and will focus on the findings and recommendations of the Independent Review. The Holbeck community remains at the forefront of all our thinking and will remain so. In terms of the recommendations set out in the Review, these will now be assessed on the basis of their individual merits with action being taken as necessary by the Safer Leeds Executive partnership.”

Chief Superintendent Damien Miller, Leeds District Commander, said:

“We welcome the insight provided by this comprehensive independent assessment, which recognises all the positive work that has been achieved as a partnership over the years as well as the challenges there have been.

“The report clearly shows that we need to maintain and develop that partnership approach to continue building on the improvements that have been made so far.

“The issues around street sex work are long-standing and present complex challenges. This was always going to be a difficult journey and we recognise there is still a long way to go, but we remain committed to this being the most effective approach to safeguard the vulnerable, reduce harm and maximise safety.”

The report will be discussed by Leeds City Council’s Executive Board on 20 July, but consideration of detailed recommendations and implementing changes to the scheme will be overseen by the Safer Leeds Executive partnership.

You can download a copy of the full report here.

 

7 Replies to “Independent review recommends keeping the Managed Approach”

  1. Consultants. You get the result you pay for and the residents weren’t paying. Except of course through taxation, but that never seems to count.

  2. I read a review of the the report on the ‘Managed Approach’, and I read the above story. I also wrote a good sized comment on what I had read, but decided to delete it as it would be just another disregarded view of what I understand to be a consensus of citizen’s views of the ‘Managed Approach’ in Holbeck, Leeds.

    So instead of writing a comment I have these questions:
    Is the ‘Managed Approach’ helping prostitution to flourish in Holbeck, Leeds?
    Is the ‘Managed Approach’ putting profit into the pockets of the drug dealers and handlers, by perpetuating lifestyles of those involved?
    Is the ‘Managed Approach’ addressing the symptoms of prostitution or the cause?
    If the ‘Managed Approach’ wants to manage prostitution, are they going to manage it in areas that are deemed as working class or will they allow it to spread to the middle and upper class areas (So that it doesn’t present an equality issue)?
    Will the areas that have an imposed ‘Managed Approach’ be shoe horned into making the Managed Approach fit?
    Are politically unaffiliated and/or unbiased local residents being quoted in the Huddersfield University Report?
    Will the ‘Managed Approach’, if it continues due to funded (By the citizens of the UK), eventually move prostitution off of the streets and into a managed facility?
    Is the ‘Managed Approach’, Local Council and Government acting as unpaid prostitution handlers?

    One final question:

    Will there be a final goal of the ‘Managed Approach’ or a moving scale that will be perpetuated with £200,000 funding every year?

    I’m sure that I could think of other questions, like so many people in effected areas. I’m also certain that authorities and officials may have prepared political responses that skirt around the edges of this issue, but eventually promotes their idea of a solution that, at this point, does not solve (A solution that does not solve is still a problem).

    I welcome being proved wrong, if someone in authority can present a solution that could bring an end to the current situation.

    1. Fantastic news! Common sense and the right approach, the managed approach, has won against the very vocal, biased minority. The vast majority of residents are either indifferent or support it. Sadly supporters cannot attend meetings voicing their support for the managed approach (which are mainly for those against it anyway), or create a Facebook page like SOE has, because of negative repercussions and not having a strong reason/drive to do so.

      Being a resident of Holbeck, over the last few years I did get the surveys, on two separate occasions, to give my opinions on the managed approach, including the recent one on this independent review. Both times I planned to respond and show support for managed approach, and both times I sadly forgot. I’m sure many more who are indifferent or support it didn’t respond/forgot. I bet those against it ensured they got it filled, and reminded their neighbours/friends who are also against it. So any results will be biased against the approach. It’s great to see that despite this, common sense has won.

      Been living in Holbeck since before and after the managed approach. Managed approach has made things a lot better not just for residents but for working girls too. A lot less soliciting, picking up, daytime hours, etc, in residential areas. About time their safety and needs were also being considered, as well as the views and experience of the agencies and charities that support them. And great to see sex workers were involved in this review too, the way they should always be.

      We need to think forward and differently with this very old age issue, and so far Leeds council is trying to do just that. All in all great news today as common sense and the objective opinion has taken precedence over the very vocal minority who don’t represent me, a resident of Holbeck, nor other silent supporters nor those that are indifferent. Managed approach is the right approach, but some refuse to just acknowledge it.

  3. Stop it end of sorry holbeck is just one dumbing ground holbeck now dose not excised no moor

  4. The BBC report on this review says only 120 people responded to the survey which works out at about 6% of residents, that says a lot about what the residents think of their views being listened to. You can bet that although the council is very heavily in debt and talking about being bankrupt it will still find £200,000 to fund this scheme. That money would be far better spent more wisely than looking after a handful of sex workers.

  5. Surprise surprise the managed zone is hailed as a great success perhaps the council should try it out in other areas of Leeds what about one in North Leeds , West Leeds and East Leeds .
    Why does South Leeds get used more than other areas for Schemes ,Mental Health , alcoholism , Drug dependency , Probation Hostels etc
    surely Holbeck is not seen as a convenient dumping ground for societies ills .
    After all these years of meetings and protests why don’t the people we elected listen and why are residents treated like been the nuisance
    if they object to anything these councillors have put in place (usually very quietly ).
    So what will happen when all these new multi storey buildings in the Holbeck area are built and finished a lot which are in the managed zone and part of the south bank scheme which apparently will have parks , wine bars , cafes , and upmarket apartments etc.
    Will the managed zone be moved , a good place would in front of the Civic Hall , easy access , lots of space and also our councillors when working late can look on with pride at there great idea in practice .
    Perhaps voting these labour councillors out of office is the way to go as they don’t seem to do much apart from pose for photos and read out carefully worded replies to any complaints put to them .

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