Latest news with #SaferStreets
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Arrests as high-profile police patrols continue in Huddersfield
High visibility police patrols in Huddersfield have resulted in a number of arrests, police have Yorkshire Police said the operation on Thursday last week was part of its ongoing Safer Streets campaign which aims to cut neighbourhood crime and improve safety for involved patrols in the town centre and followed on from earlier drugs dog patrols at the bus said one man was arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour and drugs possession and another man for possession of an offensive weapon. A teenager was also arrested at the bus station for a drunk and disorderly behaviour offence while two other youths seen engaging in anti-social behaviour were issued with banning orders forbidding them from returning to the people were also stopped and searched for drugs and another was stopped on suspicion of possessing stolen property. 'Reassure residents' The Safer Streets initiative is taking place across West Yorkshire and is supported by the Home brings together councils, transport, businesses and community organisations to reduce crime affecting day-to-day life in Graham Watson, of the Huddersfield Pro Active Town Centre Team, said: "This has been the third recent operation in Huddersfield as part of Safer Streets this summer in order to reassure residents and deter criminality by boosting our visible police presence in communities."Huddersfield bus station continues to be a focus for us and I hope seeing these regular high visibility patrols and operations is reassuring passengers and persons using the town centre more widely." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Rhyl Journal
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
MP backs summer crime crackdown in Rhyl and Colwyn Bay
The Safer Streets summer scheme aims to target anti-social behaviour in Clwyd North and is part of the Labour Government's broader 'Plan for Change'. The plan includes the recruitment of 13,000 new neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs across the UK, supported by an initial sum of £200 million. Gill German, Labour MP for Clwyd North, said: "People in Clwyd North deserve to feel safe and confident in their local high streets – whether they're shopping, working, or spending time with family and friends. "I've spoken to residents and business owners across Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, and our other town centres, and they've made it clear that tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority." The scheme, backed by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, includes Colwyn Bay and Rhyl among more than 500 towns taking part. Residents should expect to see a "stronger, more visible police presence, along with targeted action to clamp down on anti-social behaviour." The initiative is being delivered in partnership with police and crime commissioners, councils, businesses, and community leaders. In North Wales, Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin has worked with partners to develop plans focused on both prevention and enforcement. These include banning persistent offenders from town centres and increasing support for community-led safety schemes. Since the scheme launched on June 30, North Wales Police have increased foot patrols. Officers have engaged with the public through events such as Cuppa with a Copper and carried out enforcement activity. During the first week, officers made arrests and executed warrants resulting in seizures of Class A drugs, cash, mobile phones, and drug paraphernalia. The crackdown is set to run until September 30. Ms German said she has seen first-hand the value of visible, community-focused policing. She said: "Last week, I was pleased to join Inspector Matthew Kelly-Smith for a walkabout in Colwyn Bay town centre, where we discussed the benefits of an increased police presence and the importance of visible, community-focused policing. "I also spent time with Police Community Support Officers on their regular patrol in Rhyl West, hearing directly from them about the challenges they face and the positive impact their presence can have in reassuring the public and preventing crime. "That's why I welcome this summer crackdown – with more officers on the beat, real action to tackle anti-social behaviour, and support for our young people. "I'll keep working closely with North Wales Police and local partners to make sure Clwyd North gets the support it needs to build safer, stronger, and more vibrant communities. "I'm really pleased to see this government prioritising neighbourhood safety through proper investment in local policing. "There's still a way to go, but we're making meaningful progress together." The government is also launching a new Tackling Retail Crime Together Strategy. This aims to use shared intelligence to protect shops and workers from organised, repeat, and opportunistic offenders. Ms Cooper said the crackdown sends a clear message to offenders. She said: "I have called on police forces and councils to work together to deliver a summer blitz on town centre crime, to send a clear message to those people who bring misery to our towns that their crimes will no longer go unpunished. "The fact that Rhyl and Colwyn Bay have signed up shows the strength of feeling locally on this issue. "Through our Safer Streets Mission and Plan for Change, we are putting officers back on the beat where you can see them and making our town centres safe again."
BBC News
17-07-2025
- BBC News
City of Wolverhampton taking part in Safer Streets initiative
Bilston town centre will be the focus of a blitz on retail crime and anti-social behaviour on Friday, officials City of Wolverhampton Council's community safety, public protection and licensing teams will be on patrol with the neighbourhood policing team as part of the government-backed Safer Streets teams will advise shoppers on how to avoid scams, talk to businesses about shoplifting and anti-social behaviour and encourage pubs and venues to sign up to the Ask for Angela initiative which helps customers feeling day of action in Bilston is part of several initiatives taking place in Wolverhampton city centre and Wednesfield over the summer, the council said. Councillor Obaida Ahmed, cabinet member for health, wellbeing and community, said: "The Safer Streets initiative is all about ensuring our high streets continue to be safe and welcoming places for everyone, and about sharing information and advice with residents and businesses to help them avoid becoming victims of crime." "This day of action is just one of a series of activities which will be taking place in Wolverhampton, Bilston and Wednesfield over the coming weeks, and if you are in Bilston town centre on Friday, please catch up with our officers to find out more."Insp Steve Edwards, from Bilston police station, added: "We regularly run operations like this to tackle business crime and issues in the local area to make sure everyone visiting Bilston feels safe."Working with our partners as we enforce the national Safer Streets initiative means people will see increased police presence, more crime prevention work and enforcement action this summer." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Town centre crime crackdown expected as Bradford joins scheme
Judith Cummins, MP for Bradford South, has said she "welcome[s] extra resourcing for the local police here," following Bradford's signing up to the Home Secretary's 'Safer Streets' initiative. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's initiative, described as a "summer blitz on town centre crime," is expected to lead to increased police presence in town centre areas. Neighbourhood Policing Teams "will be liaising with local businesses and setting out local priorities for each ward," according to a spokesperson for Ms Cummins; and antisocial behaviour at Tesco's in Great Horton has been given as an example priority. West Yorkshire police force is expected to add 100 officers to its force in 2025, as a result of investment from the government, according to a spokesperson for Ms Cummins. Bradford is one of more than 500 locations to have signed up to the Safer Streets scheme. A spokesperson for Ms Cummins said: "Local police and crime commissioners and metro mayors have developed bespoke local action plans with police, businesses, and local councils, with the aim of supporting town centres to become vibrant places where people want to live, work, and spend time. "These plans include increased visible town centre policing and ramping up the use of targeted enforcement powers against troublemakers – including banning perpetrators from hotspots." The Home Secretary said: "I have called on police forces and councils to work together to deliver a summer blitz on town centre crime, to send a clear message to those people who bring misery to our towns that their crimes will no longer go unpunished. "The fact that Bradford has signed up shows the strength of feeling locally on this issue. 'Through our Safer Streets mission and Plan for Change, we are putting officers back on the beat where you can see them and making our town centres safe again." Ms Cummins said: "It is vital that the streets of Bradford are free from thugs and from thieves. "People deserve to feel safe in their homes, or whilst out and about across the city. "I welcome any steps taken to deliver a safer city for everyone across Bradford South." The Safer Streets initiative also aims to ensure that there are activities for young people to engage in to prevent crime during the school holidays. The Home Office, alongside police, retailers, and industry, also plans to launch a new 'Tackling Retail Crime Together Strategy.'
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Extra Lincolnshire Police patrols 'unrealistic' despite cash vow
Lincolnshire Police cannot afford to put on extra patrols during the summer despite government promises, a police and crime commissioner (PCC) has said. Last month the Home Office announced funding for increased police presence in town centres and high streets to deter crime and anti-social Lincolnshire PCC Marc Jones has said it is "simply untrue" that there will be additional efforts in Lincolnshire as the force is "struggling to even maintain current levels of frontline services".However, a Home Office spokesperson said: "Lincolnshire Police will receive £174.5m in funding in 2025-26, a 6.2% increase on their funding for 2024-25." The Home Office had said 500 town centres across the country would see more officers on patrol as part of its Safer Streets summer to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, 10 areas in Lincolnshire will have a more visible police presence during busy times and each community would be able to easily contact scheme would run in Lincoln, Boston, Louth, Stamford, Spalding, Gainsborough, Grantham, and Sleaford, as well as on Lumley Road in Skegness and High Street in Mablethorpe. 'Unrealistic picture' But Jones said the campaign paints "an unrealistic picture of the situation in Lincolnshire"."I have repeatedly made it clear that with the current level of funding, which penalises Lincolnshire with the lowest funding per head in the country, the force is struggling to even maintain current levels of frontline services," he said. "The idea that this summer will see named contactable officers in every community, increased peak time patrols in town centres and anti-social behaviour leads in our force – as promised by the government – is simply untrue."Jones said the force would not be able to meet the government's commitments "until the unfair funding formula has been addressed". He added it was "ridiculous" to think the force could offer extra neighbourhood policing while facing real-term cuts. Last month, Chief Constable Paul Gibson warned 400 staff and officer jobs could be cut if the force cannot secure extra funding by news came after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a 2.3% real terms yearly funding increase for policing in England and Mr Gibson said it was not enough for the county and would leave the force facing a deficit of almost £ to LDRS, without emergency help, consultation would start on reducing its force by 200 officers, along with another 200 staff including PCSOs. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Click here to download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and here to download the BBC News app from Google Play for Android devices.
