Community Outcomes Making Communities Safe and Feel Safer
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14th February 2014 Issue 008 Chief Constable’s Report Community Outcomes Making Communities Safe and Feel Safer Reducing crime and re-offending West Yorkshire communities are safer with reduced crime and improved performance 2013 was a great year for the communities of West Yorkshire - when both crime was reduced and force performance improved. Crime significantly dropped with 6319 fewer recorded crimes – a fall of nearly 4% on the previous year. In calls for service, West Yorkshire Police received 350,591 999 calls and answered 97% of them within 10 seconds. Over 100,000 emergency incidents were dealt with and over 91% of these were attended in 15 minutes or less. Other successes include: e • Domestic Burglaries were down 10.6% in 2013 from 2012 - a reduction of 1477 c offences. n a • There has been a drop of 8.4% in non-domestic burglaries – which includes thefts from businesses, garages and garden sheds. m r o • Robberies are reducing with 276 less offences committed in 2013 – a drop of 12.9% f Criminal Damage also reduced by 6.5% in 2013 compared to the previous year r which is 1729 less offences. e P • Car Crime is down with 7.3% less offences of theft of a motor vehicle. d • Anti-social behaviour is down 2.5% with 1883 less crimes reported than in the e previous year. The proportion of residents who believe ASB has increased has also v fallen from 12.8% in December 2012 to 12.2% in December 2013. o r • Victims of crime are increasingly satisfied with the service they receive from the p Force. The latest satisfaction rating for victims of burglary, violent crime and vehicle m crime at 88.2% is close to the highest ever achieved by the Force. I How West Yorkshire Police is delivering the Police and Crime Plan Reducing crime and re-offending Raids sweep illegal activity off the streets A series of targeted raids around the county over the • Five vehicles seized in Bradford during a last two weeks have seized drugs, weapons, cash and crackdown on driving without insurance stolen property from known criminals. • Eight people arrested for offences including robbery, burglary and possession with intent to The raids were part of Operation Viper that uses local supply drugs in Thornton, Queensbury and Little information to target the county’s most prolific offenders Horton areas of Bradford and to anticipate and prevent illegal activity. • Crack cocaine, recovered with an estimated street value of £800 pounds in Bradford and three Over the last two weeks the raids have been highly cannabis farms shut down successful. For example: • A raid on a Leeds pub led to six arrests and 15 new and used handbags, wallets, purses and security • £10,000 in cash seized from a property in Keighley tags were recovered and a 25-year-old man arrested on suspicion of money laundering The raids have been widely publicised by the local • Six vehicles containing weapons including tasers, media and feedback from members of the public has crossbows, swords and knuckledusters seized in been very positive. If you would like to report illegal Bradford activity in your area contact West Yorkshire Police on • Commercial premises raided in Huddersfield and a 101 or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 41-year-old man arrested in possession of a knife 555111 . and suspected class A drugs 1 Reducing crime and re-offending Public warned of car crime Theft from a motor vehicle is easy to avoid and officers Officers have been handing out cards for drivers to in Great Horton have been offering crime prevention display in their vehicle that say all valuables have been advice to motorists. removed and advising people to wind windows up and make sure their vehicle is locked when they leave it, Opportune thieves are on the look out for items left on even if only for a minute. seats or on display such as coats or bags, and mobile phone or satellite navigation holders that indicate that If you would like more vehicle crime prevention advice, the items might be hidden inside the car. please go to www.westyorkshire.police.uk/help- advice/crime-prevention/your-vehicle 2 Reducing anti-social behaviour Halifax Crime Reduction Initiative Detection rates for shoplifting in Halifax have risen to To find out more about crime prevention in Halifax town 77% from 55% following a scheme to make the town centre visit the Halifax Central NPT website at centre safer. www.westyorkshire.police.uk/calderdale/halifax- central During January, the number of officers on patrol was increased and visual displays were put up in the town’s Shopping centre to reduce crime, deter offenders and make visitors to Halifax feel safer. • 179 officers were on duty patrolling Halifax Town Centre including PCs, PCSOs, volunteers, street wardens and officers from the mounted section • Over1070 visits to retail stores to deliver key crime reduction messages around retail theft and burglary • 99 people were stopped and searched • Over 50 people were arrested for a variety of offences from shop theft to burglary • Over 300 sets of anti-theft number plate screws were issued and fitted to vehicles More Anti-Social Behaviour Warning Letters Served Stopping anti-social behaviour is a policing priority With a proven success record, these letters are an throughout the county. Officers actively patrol areas effective way of quickly stopping most anti social where nuisance can occur in order to identify and deal behaviour, as the residents of West Bowling have with offenders. discovered. The police work closely with the Local Authorities and If you need to report any incidents of ASB, contact your the communities affected and have a range of local NPT on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously measures that can be introduced. A good example of on 0800 555111. this was when two young people aged 14 and 16 from the West Bowling area of Bradford were recently issued with Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) warning letters. These letters act as the first warning to the offenders and explain why their behaviour is unacceptable and that the consequences of continuing to behave in this way would mean that they would face prosecution. 3 Reducing anti-social behaviour On the 'decoy' buses A Leeds’ bus route that has been the subject of anti- The results of the operation were really positive and social behaviour was subject of a planned policing included: operation with the help of plain clothed officers. • Over 25 young people were stopped. Many were underage drinking and alcohol was confiscated Travelling on the bus as part of the operation were • A number of young people were taken home to their officers from Pudsey Neighbourhood Police Team parents for advice (NPT) together with staff from Leeds Council Anti- • Some were given ‘Directions to Leave’ localities for Social Behaviour Team (LASBT), police Hate Crime 48 hours Coordinators and Leeds Safer Travel. The bus was • Two motorists were given formal warnings for using specially provided by First Bus. vehicles in an anti-social manner • A drunken woman was arrested in Farsley for There had been a number of incidents of stones being damaging cars with a shopping trolley and thrown at buses and disorderly behaviour witnessed breaching a court order along the bus route. The bus travelled through Pudsey, Swinnow and Farsley and, as young people in the area So far nearly 1000 people have viewed details of the were not expecting to see them, the team was able to operation on Pudsey NPT Facebook page. jump off the bus and intervene in many situations. www.facebook.com/PudseyNPT 4 Supporting victims and witnesses Email Contact Scheme hits 2000 homes More than 2000 residents of Bingley and Worth Valley information about recent offences and appeals for have signed up for a scheme to receive local crime witnesses. It is already proving a great success. prevention news by email from the Neighbourhood Recently, it was used to publicise a vulnerable Police Team (NPT). missing person in the Oxenhope area. Thankfully they were found safe and well, when a resident who Officers from the team have been collecting email had read the e-mail, spotted them and alerted the addresses from residents in the area over the past 12 police. West Yorkshire Police is grateful to them for months. The email addresses have been grouped their timely actions which helped keep a member of into neighbourhoods within the NPT to ensure that their community safe. subscribers to the scheme get information and advice relevant to their area. To join the scheme contact the NPT by email at [email protected] or to see The scheme sends out crime prevention alerts such what schemes are operating locally go to as up-to-date advice on how to secure property, www.westyorkshire.police.uk/npt Residents in Horsforth say ‘NO’ to Cold Callers West Yorkshire Police understands how intimidating The zone is now live and residents can report all an unwanted caller to someone's home can be and incidents of cold calling to the Citizens Advice the Aireborough & Wharfedale Neighbourhood Police Consumer Helpline on 08454 040506 so that action Team has recently undertaken work with residents to can be taken against the individuals. stop cold calling and prevent bogus traders. Bogus traders target residents offering fake goods and The zones have been a huge success nationally and services in exchange for cash or con their way into have been shown to reduce overall crime in the areas homes to steal. where they have been launched. This was becoming an issue for residents of St For further information on Cold Calling Control Zones Margaret's Drive in Horsforth, Leeds who were feeling please visit www.ts.wyjs.org.uk/wyjs-trading- intimidated by frequent visits from rogue traders, doorstep-crime.asp doorstep criminals and unsolicited sales people.