23rd January 2015 Issue 022 Chief Constable’s Report Community Outcomes to the Police and Crime Commissioner Reducing crime and re-offending Dedicated unit to tackle Human Trafficking West Yorkshire Police will take a lead role in fighting human trafficking after becoming one of a handful of forces to set up a dedicated unit to combat slavery gangs. The Human Trafficking Unit (HTU) will work both locally and nationally to target organised crime groups seeking to traffic people into West Yorkshire. It will be led by a dedicated Detective Inspector and staffed by specialist Detectives and Investigators who have all received specific training. It is believed to be only the third of its kind in the country and has been set up as part of West Yorkshire's Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). The unit will use a wide range of tactics and techniques to investigate the most complex criminal cases. referral mechanism doubled from 42 to 84, showing the scale of the problem, but also A West Yorkshire Anti Trafficking Network has also demonstrating that victims are more willing to been launched with charity Hope For Justice which come to us. will train almost 3,500 police staff and staff from partner agencies in how to spot the signs of “We have been working closely with the charity, trafficking and tackle it. Hope for Justice to support victims and secure evidence against those abusing them." Detective Chief Inspector Warren Stevenson, of West Yorkshire Police said, “The formation of a The DCI said the new unit will complement the trafficking prevention unit shows how seriously work already ongoing within West Yorkshire Police authorities take the issue. Human trafficking is a to tackle trafficking, and provide extra support for vile crime and the resources we are dedicating to complex cases. this new unit make it clear how determined we are to tackle it and bring those responsible to justice. He added: “We are already making good progress in tackling human trafficking and have secured “Last year the number of human trafficking victims some significant convictions over the past 12 referred by West Yorkshire Police to the national months.” How West Yorkshire Police is delivering the Police and Crime Plan Reducing crime and re-offending Volunteers help to drive down crime Student volunteers who work alongside police officers in Leeds’ main student areas have been recognised for their efforts to help reduce burglary. The Student Guardian Team, launched in 2012, with students from Leeds Beckett University’s Criminology degree course joining neighbourhood officers on a range of crime prevention projects. As part of a ten-week project to reduce burglary in student areas, the volunteers visited homes in Headingly, Hyde Park and Woodhouse to offer advice on how to avoid becoming a burglary victim. The number of burglaries on insecure homes in those areas was cut by almost 20 per cent during that period. In recognition of this work, the volunteers were invited to a presentation at Leeds District Headquarters, in Elland Road, where they were formally thanked and presented with certificates by Superintendent Hussain. Drug dealer jailed after car smash worth £120,000 after he fled from a car he had crashed whilst drunk. Police traced Leslie Cropper to his home in Dewsbury and found him in the loft along with a stash of the Class A drug, heroin worth £112,000, crack cocaine worth £6,000 and £600 of cannabis. He left the house in the car after a drunken argument with his partner in the early hours of 30th November and drove it down an embankment before returning home. Cropper admitted possessing crack cocaine and heroin with intent to A 37-year-old man was jailed for five years and supply, possession of cannabis and driving over four months after being caught with a haul of drugs the prescribed limit. 1 Reducing crime and re-offending Crime prevention in Calderdale Officers in Calderdale have been out and about meeting with members of the community to help them cut crime during the winter months. A team of PCSOs and community volunteers visited more than 400 homes in Saville Park, Skircoat Green and Copley to hand out information on securing homes against burglary during darker nights 'Lock up and Light up' was the message from PCSO Judith Wood on a recent visit to the 'Allsorts' group which meets at Luddenden Civic Institute. During the darker nights people are advised to keep doors and windows locked at all times; leave a light on even if they go out and keep valuables out of sight. Officers and volunteers also attended Burnley Road Academy to talk to young people about avoiding anti-social behaviour and how to prevent being a victim of crime. The children were given UV pens and crime prevention leaflets in order to remind their parents of the ongoing police campaign. In your area - Bradford • Two men were arrested following the execution of a warrant by Bradford officers. The officers found Class A drugs and cash at the address in Stuart Court, Little Horton. Enquiries are ongoing • A 42-year-old man was arrested and jailed for four months following an investigation into a number of shoplifting offences in the Greengates area • Following concerns raised in the community PCSO Danny Mynott conducted parking patrols at Leytop Primary School, Allerton and issued a number of fixed penalty tickets for illegal parking • A 28-year-old man from Bingley was jailed for 20 weeks for shoplifting in Bingley and Keighley during November and December 2 Reducing anti-social behaviour Nuisance bike team impound vehicle Officers from the Bradford district Off Road Bike team have seized a vehicle for failing to comply with the law. The officers were patrolling an area near Eccleshill when they noticed a motorbike pull into the Thorp Edge housing estate. They recognised the rider as someone they had spoken to previously. He had not attached L plates on his bike despite being advised to by officers and the number plate was also attached in such a way that it was impossible to read from the back. The rider was reported for the L plate offence which can carry a fine and three penalty points. His bike was also seized under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act for having no L plates and he will have to pay a fee before it is released. The message to road users is to make sure your vehicle complies with the law and, if you are given advice and a warning by the police, make sure you take the relevant action or risk losing your vehicle. In your area - Wakefield • Two men were charged with burglary and will appear at Leeds Crown Court following an investigation in the Sandal area. On Monday 22nd December local officers supported by police dogs and the helicopter searched the area which resulted in the arrests and recovery of high value vehicles • Extra patrols have taken place in Wakefield City Centre to target personal and shop theft. This is an ongoing operation that commenced in November and has resulted in a 42% reduction in personal theft, and a 13% reduction in shop theft compared with the same period last year • Between 20 and 30 cannabis plants were found in a building at an allotment, just off Methley Road. A team of officers from Castleford and Normanton and Featherstone neighbourhood policing teams, Wakefield CID and West Yorkshire Police’s Operation Support Unit carried out the raid 3 Reducing anti-social behaviour Restorative Justice a 'success' in Featherstone Four young people who have been involved in criminal damage in Featherstone have been helping to clean up the community to make amends. The young men picked up litter from ‘The Stacks’ on the cold morning of 6th December – filling 14 bin liners. Their parents dropped them off and were fully appraised of what would be expected of their children. They received praise for the work from members of the public who were passing by. Restorative Justice is an alternative option to the traditional process of arrest for minor offences. recognise that they have done something wrong It gives the victims of a crime the opportunity to and quickly put it right. They can see the effect suggest appropriate punishments for those their actions have had on their victims which responsible. It gives the offenders a chance to encourages them not to reoffend. Nuisance car clampdown in Keighley following a number of complaints from members of the public. Officers from the district off road motorcycle team have attended the car park and witnessed dangerous and anti-social driving including driving without lights and performing handbrake turns. Several drivers were spoken to and issued with a Section 59 order under the Police Reform Act which means they have a marker against both them and their motor vehicle and any further inappropriate driving will result in their vehicle being seized. The anti-social use of motor vehicles is the focus Patrols of the retail park will continue for the next of targeted police activity at Keighley Retail Park few weeks. 4 Supporting victims and witnesses Police reward care home victim’s bravery Officers from Wakefield district have commended the bravery of a grandmother-of-six who was stabbed by an intruder at the care home where she worked. Christine Pygott, 67, was presented with a hamper by local officers, at the care home in Castleford, where she has worked for 19 years. On a Saturday in October, she was making breakfast when she heard a noise at the back door and, upon opening it, a man forced his way in, assaulted and stabbed her.