10th January 2014 Issue 006 Reducing crime and re-offending Phone sweep by Viper team Officers from Operation Viper arrested three people and seized 90 suspected stolen mobile phones during targeted raids in Leeds City Centre. A team of officers used specialist technology to hunt for stolen goods, visiting retailers who were selling phones and identifying if the phones were being legitimately sold. Mobile phones are attractive items to steal for criminals as they are small with high value. As a result of the operation, a man aged 25 was arrested on suspicion of burglary and a 28 year old man arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. A 33 year old man was also arrested on suspicion of theft and handling stolen goods. How West Yorkshire Police is delivering the Police and Crime Plan Reducing crime and re-offending Leeds communities are safer thanks to multi-agency operation Neighbourhood Policing Teams in North West Leeds The local police also focussed on targeted searches of have taken part in multi-agency events during taxis, scrap metal vans and scrap metal yards in the December, in Headingley, Hyde Park, Burley, Airedale, city which resulted in vehicle seizures and the issue of Wharfedale and Pudsey, to target local crime and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) community issues. prohibition orders, fixed penalty notices and scrap waste notices. These activities were supported by Taxi Local police worked alongside agencies including enforcement, Immigration, Trading Standards, Leeds Leeds City Council, Community Action and Support City Council Environmental Action, HMRC Road Fuel, Against Crime (CASAC), Her Majesty’s Revenue and DVLA, VOSA, Smartwater, Civilian Fines and Customs (HMRC), Trading Standards and the DVLA Licensing. and achieved a number of successful outcomes including: The success of this latest multi-agency operation, builds on important partnership working that • Warning and prosecuting speeding drivers recognises and responds to the needs of local • Engagement with residents at mobile police contact communities, by actively working together to detect points crime and deter criminal behaviour. • Increasing residents’ home security by target hardening premises • Shutting down a cannabis factory and prosecuting those responsible • Removal of bulky waste and fly tipping • Enforcement of Court Orders, resulting in arrest and fine payments 1 Reducing crime and re-offending The Police Station that comes to you West Yorkshire Police is trialling a mobile custody suite The mobile custody suite, which is about the size of a which should allow officers to spend more time working single-decker bus, will increase police presence on the in their community. streets and will help to make communities safer and feeling safer. The vehicle, which is on loan from Cheshire Constabulary, has been on trial over the Christmas and The pilot is part of West Yorkshire Police’s ongoing New Year period. It has been brought in to provide work to provide a more efficient and effective service custody facilities away from regular police stations, in the face of budget cuts. which will help cut down on the amount of time taken by officers transporting and processing individuals who have been arrested. The 26 foot long, 8.5 tonne Iveco van has been used day and night in town and city centres, at small and large scale events such as festivals and football matches, in rural areas and in high-risk shoplifting areas. Inside the vehicle is a fully functioning custody unit with booking-in desk, six cells, a fully equipped interview room, and toilet and washing facilities. It is also kitted out with the latest 3G technology and onboard CCTV. The mobile custody suite School children briefed on road safety Denis worked with staff and year 1 pupils at Shirley Manor Primary, Appleton Academy and Worthinghead Primary as part of the Tong & Wyke Neighbourhood Police Team ‘Darker nights’ campaign. Classroom sessions involved the Wyke safety slogan ‘STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, THINK, ARRIVE ALIVE’. The children were taught the words along with a series of hand signals to make them more memorable. This slogan has been taught to the young children in Wyke for several years and Denis often has local teenagers approaching him reminiscing about their road safety lessons. The classroom input was followed by a practical roadside session including how to negotiate zebra, pelican and lollipop crossings. Police Community Support Officer Denis Bennett has been working with local Wyke councillors to deliver a Funds were donated by Wyke councillors from the road safety initiative to children in several local primary Ward Budget to provide the children with reflective schools in the Bradford area. jackets, flashing armbands and pump bags. 2 Reducing anti-social behaviour Cannabis Farm discovered by PCSO Chris raised the alarm after spotting a series of telltale signs which can identify cannabis farms. These include: • Strong distinct smells • Closed curtains even during the day • Lights on constantly • Nobody seen coming or going from the address • A humming noise from fans • Large amounts of weed killer and plant food packaging, possibly in wheelie bins The house was searched and a large number of cannabis plants were found well hidden underneath the floorboards along with a large amount of cannabis hidden in the attic. Two people were arrested as a result. If you suspect cannabis is being grown near you, please report it to us on 101 or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 . All information can be reported anonymously and details will not be passed on. Spending at least 80% of their time out in their communities means that Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) get to see, hear and in this case smell things that set alarm bells ringing. Recently whilst out on foot patrol in the Marshfields area of Bradford a PCSO Chris Hardy discovered a cannabis factory located in a residential property. Super cocooning tackles rural burglary Local officers in Wharfedale, Shipley and Bingley are is the most prevalent crime tackling rural burglary by increasing their presence in type within the Wharfedale the community following each incident. ward with high value bikes and gardening equipment a Officers are using a tactic known as ‘super cocooning’ favourite target of thieves. which entails visiting 40 houses surrounding the victim’s address to gather further intelligence, identify To obtain more advice about witnesses and offer crime reduction advice and re- how to keep your belongings assurance. safe you can either contact your local Neighbourhood The new area Inspector Hugh Robinson, introduced Police Team or look at our the tactic as he was concerned about the rise in website: burglary over the previous year, especially as anti- social behaviour and all other crime had reduced so www.westyorkshire.police. dramatically in the area. Burglary of garages and sheds uk/crimeprevention 3 Reducing anti-social behaviour Force takes to twitter to evidence ‘Mad Friday’ Over a 12 hour period, on 20th December, the tweets highlighted alcohol related anti-social behaviour and drink driving incidents, as well as violent crime including, domestic violence, fighting outside pubs and even a hoax call. Here are some facts and figures from the night: • In a 24-hour period the Customer Contact Centre handled over 4,000 calls. 1300 of these were on 999 - more than 300 more than the normal call volume. • 99.7% of 999 calls were answered within 10 seconds. • 97% of non emergency calls were answered within 30 seconds. • No 999 calls were abandoned before being answered and only 3 non emergency calls (0.01%) ‘Mad Friday’ is the term used for the last Friday before were abandoned by the caller before we got to Christmas, as it is one of the busiest nights of the year them. for drinking and socialising; so West Yorkshire Police • At peak times staff were handling almost 7 calls used Twitter to share reports of 101 and 999 calls, with per hour the public, and give them an insight into the issues faced by the police in trying to keep communities safe. The tweets had an excellent response from the public, most of whom were supportive of the effort put in by All four police forces that cover the Yorkshire and officers to protect and assist people across the county. Humberside region took part and were tweeting events You can follow West Yorkshire Police on Twitter as they happened. @WestYorksPolice 4 Supporting victims and witnesses BBC documentary shows how partnership work increases safety Home security and safety were the focus of a multi- The aim of the day was to provide reassurance to the agency operation in Leeds to support elderly residents, carry out security assessments on their residents in December. The successful event was properties and promote 'Nominate a Neighbour' - a attended by a BBC film crew who wanted to film it for scheme that is aimed at combatting cold callers. a crime prevention documentary. Local police joined forces with CASAC (Community There has been a spate of burglaries in the area Action and Support Against Crime), and residential involving both forced entry through poorly maintained care company, Care Home U.K, to visit elderly people doors and windows or bogus callers. The team, which in the Holt Park, Adel, Horsforth and Cookridge areas included local detectives and crime scene visitors, of Leeds. who specialise in detecting and deterring all types of burglary, offered security advice to householders to help prevent them from becoming victims of crime. The day was very successful, with positive feedback from the residents and the agencies involved and the BBC documentary will air in 2014. To read more about West Yorkshire Police’s burglary campaign go to www.westyorkshire.police.uk/burglary €5million European Commission project for West Yorkshire Exploring how the public and emergency services The project will look at how the public self-organise respond in a crisis is the aim of a €5million, multi- into voluntary groups, adapt quickly to changing agency research project, which will be coordinated by circumstances, emerge as leaders and experts and West Yorkshire Police.