Street sex work has dramatically reduced in Leeds as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, according to a local campaign group.
Leeds became the first place in the UK to legally allow sex workers to solicit for trade when the Holbeck Managed Approach was introduced in 2014.
The scheme was brought in to make sex work safer for the women in Leeds by allowing them to solicit for trade in a controlled environment - but it has proven to be highly controversial, particularly with local residents who live near the zone.
Shortly after the UK went into lockdown, Leeds City Council issued a strict message which said "all powers" would be used to temporarily stop women from selling sex during the global pandemic.
While some sex workers are still said to be on the streets, Save Our Eyes has said there are now far fewer women working in the Holbeck Managed Approach.
A spokesman for the group said: "There is still prostitution continuing regardless of lockdown, although much reduced because of the new measures.
"Prostituted women have been helped with accommodation and addiction services to keep them safe from Covid-19.
"The residents feel safer and much happier now that street sex and kerb crawling are less prevalent in the area."
However, Save Our Eyes has said the temporary changes should be continued once the lockdown ends and that the sex zone should be permanently closed.
In a letter sent to the council, they have said that more should be done to "continue to keep a zero tolerance zone by permanently banning all kerb crawling and punters" and repatriate women back to their families if they are found to have been trafficked into the trade.
"We want the road to freedom to continue for both the women and the residents," they said. "These exceptional circumstances have revealed a way forward that works for both prostituted women and local residents.
"The unexpected Covid-19 lockdown has created the opportunity to reduce the on street sex trade in Leeds.
"Following that, we hope the women can continue to be helped to break the cycle of addiction and exploitation.
"Therefore it leaves no justification to encourage sex buyers back to south Leeds when lockdown measures are lifted."
Leeds City Council has commissioned a £50,000 independent review into the Holbeck Managed Approach to analyse whether the scheme has worked.
It came after pressure mounted from residents and opposition councillors, while Leeds Central MP Hilary Benn admitted in 2018: "My strong sense is that we cannot carry on as we are."
