Despite claims that legalization helps women in prostitution, in Amsterdam it has led to increases in organized crime and trafficking and has created an environment in which pimps operate with impunity under the title of “manager” or “facilitator.” Far from empowering or protecting the prostituted women, where prostitution is legalized, the women are forced to pay rent and fees to a pimp to protect them from being beaten up such that they “can barely make a living.” Finally after 10 years of evidence that criminal gangs are in control of the Red Light District, local government officials are trying to find new measures to shut down the window brothels and sex shops and to attract new development to the area.