Anger continues over managed zone in Holbeck

Three months after the council and police admitted Holbeck's so-called red light zone isn't working - we're asking if anything's been done to sort out the problem.

They promised to do more after people living there complained about needles on the streets, and prostitutes working outside of zone.

The authorities say they HAVE made changes since then - like setting up a new police team - but residents have told us things aren't any better.

Laura Walton lives and works in Holbeck - she's now taken matters into her own hands and decided to run for local councillor as an independent candidate:

“We are the ones that live day to day with the effects of it. I’ve lived here all of my life and I have noticed in the past three years it’s totally changed. And it’s such a shame because there’s some really nice people, and I think the people should come first.

“I don’t think the residents are being prioritised. We should be able to be safe, we should be able to take our children to school.”

In a statement, a Safer Leeds spokesperson said:

“As part of our ongoing commitment to listen to the views that have been expressed through various different forums which includes a public meeting undertaken last October, and to reduce further the impact on residents, businesses and local stakeholders, we have made further changes to operational aspects of the Managed Approach.

“In listening to the concerns that have been raised, we have for example, changed the operational hours of the Managed Approach, established a dedicated policing team and increased local environmental budgets to support the local community and businesses.

“We do however acknowledge that this work is still an ongoing process and that there is still a lot more that needs to be done. To further inform our strategy moving forward, we will therefore be using the ongoing dialogue we are undertaking with representatives of the local community to also assist with the management and effective targeting of resources."