Schoolgirls ‘approached for sex’ in first official red light district

SCHOOLGIRLS have been propositioned by men in the UK’S first official red light district, an academy chief has claimed as he expressed “grave concerns” about children’s safety.

Pupils as young as 13 have been asked whether they are “open for business” while walking to school, according to Sir John Townsley, chief executive of The Gorse Academies Trust which runs 11 schools in Leeds.

He has urged Leeds city council to end the “managed approach” to prostitution in the Holbeck area of the city, which he says is having a “hugely detrimental effect” on students who have to walk through it every day on their way to and from school.

The red light district, launched in 2014, is at the heart of a debate over the most effective way to regulate prostitution. Earlier this year, academics at Huddersfield University, who were commissioned by the council to carry out an independent review, claimed the scheme had “significantly improved” the health and safety of sex workers and reduced the prevalence of prostitution.

Sir John said that if researchers had interviewed students at The Ruth Gorse Academy, they would have reached a “different conclusion” as the school is located near the “managed zone”.

“The zone attracts unsavoury characters who would otherwise not be here,” Sir John said. “Our families feel unsafe. Many have witnessed women performing sexual acts upon men in public places and, on a small number of occasions, school-aged girls have been approached by men looking for sex.”

Ben Mallinson, principal of The Ruth Gorse Academy, has written to the head of children’s services at Leeds city council to raise “grave concerns” about the safeguarding and welfare of his pupils. He shared a number of accounts from students at his school, including one female pupil who said: “Two years ago, while in my school uniform, I was asked on my way to school whether I was a prostitute and whether I was open for business. I was 13 at the time.”

City council member Amanda Carter has submitted a motion, which will be voted on today, that says “no action” has been taken to address child safeguarding concerns and calls for an “exit strategy” for the “managed zone”.

Debra Coupar, a councillor who oversees the Safer Leeds partnership, said: “We are willing to take any steps to make improvements. Safeguarding continues to be of the highest priority.”