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Ipswich's approach to reducing street prostitution and protecting women who sell sex has been more successful than Leeds' controversial Managed Approach, according to the findings of an inquiry.

A report on the inquiry into UK prostitution, conducted by Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, says the Leeds scheme appears to have made prostitutes more willing get help from outreach workers and report crimes to the police.

However, it says sex workers don't feel much safer on the streets of Holbeck since the scheme was launched, and there are still issues with women being sexually assaulted and working outside the designated zone.

The report also states that 'in contrast' Ipswich's strategy has 'been successful in eliminating street prostitution and kerb-crawlers', helped women move away from prostitution and prevented others from taking up the profession.

The conclusion of the inquiry, entitled 'The Limits of Consent: Prostitution in the UK', was that punishments for prostitution should be relaxed and prostitution related offences should be 'expunged from criminal records'.

It also found that the system of prostitution 'is intimately connected to sexual exploitation, sexual violence, violent crime and other crime, and that people are harmed through it'.

However, the inquiry has been criticised for failing to thoroughly investigate the relationship between austerity, poverty and prostitution.

What is the difference between the schemes in Leeds and Ipswich?

Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police teamed up in 2014 to launch the Managed Approach, which allows sex workers to ply their trade between 8pm and 6am in an area of Holbeck, without fear of prosecution.

The women can also get support and advice from outreach workers at Basis Yorkshire and the drug and alcohol service Forward Leeds.

The scheme set out to protect sex workers and encourage them to report crimes, but also reduce street prostitution and its impact on the area. However, it has been repeatedly criticised by people living in Holbeck, councillors and Leeds Central MP Hilary Benn.

Ipswich adopted a different approach to prostitution after the bodies of Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls were all murdered by the Suffolk Strangler (Steven Wright) in 2006.

Suffolk Constabulary decided to crack down on the men who were buying sex, instead of the women who were selling it.

The force also worked with people from other organisations, including social workers and health professionals, to help women exit prostitution and prevent vulnerable youngsters in care homes and troubled households from being drawn towards the inherently dangerous profession.

poll loading Should the Managed Approach be scrapped? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Yes, immediately No, but major changes need to be made No, it works well

Alan Caton, the former Suffolk Constabulary detective superintendent who led the strategy, has told LeedsLive that it has been 'fantastically effective' because it has eliminated street prostitution and kerb crawling.

He also said the Managed Approach 'plays right into the hands of pimps and abusers of women' and ' allows men to carry on in their misogynistic ways, to abuse and exploit women'.

However, Leeds City Council says it is continuing to listen to the concerns of the working women and everyone else affected by the scheme, so it can make alterations and improvements where necessary.

Last year, it also committed extra funding and resources to the Managed Approach, including more dedicated police officers, and agreed for it to undergo an independent review.

Speaking at a budget meeting in February, Cllr Debra Coupar, deputy leader of the council, said: "Since additional investment we're seeing a higher level of engagement with the community and a improved relationship between sex workers and police."

At the meeting, various councillors called on the Labour group which runs the council to cut funding for the Managed Approach by £256,000 - so that money could be spent on 'a new approach to supporting women working in this area'.

But this move was rejected by the Labour group.

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