With Sergeant Chloe Spencer
Neighbourhood policing operates on effective engagement and consultation with its communities. On 23 April a joint partnership day was held in Cottingley to do just that; engage with members of the Cottingley community and consult with them on what issues really matter to them.
Police officers in partnership with Leeds City Council Housing Officers, Anti-social Behaviour Team; Taxi Licencing and crime prevention officers, attended at Cottingley Community Centre to discuss issues and concerns in the Cottingley area. These included anti-social behaviour (ASB), drugs, vandalism and nuisance motorbikes.
The Police engaged with members of the public from the community engagement van on Cottingley Vale. Officers not only offered advice around crime prevention, but also provided a bike marking service which was greatly appreciated. Leeds City Council were parked up in the Hugo bus, also on Cottingley Vale, offering residents advice surrounding housing. Members of the public appreciated this service as access to such advice can sometimes feel out of reach.
The Police Off-Road Bike Team were out all day in the area conducting high visibility patrols, in areas known for its motorbike related ASB. We are pleased to report that officers did not come across any such nuisance bikes and officers had some positive engagements with members of the public. Further, local Neighbourhood Policing officers carried out speed checks on Cottingley Drive, a 20mph zone, resulting in 15 speeding tickets being issued.
Whilst Police were busy with their proactive patrols, Leeds City Council officers carried out surveys of the local area to identify issues that need to be rectified such as, hazardous paving and overgrown shrubbery. Council officers along with Councillor Scopes also took part in litter picking throughout the estate. A total of 20 bags of litter were picked from the area! During the litter picking, Council officers identified multiple areas which are being used for fly tipping. These are not only an eye sore but also an environmental hazard and the appropriate enforcement action will be taken. Please do report such fly tipping or hazards, if you come across them, to the Council to assist them in keeping your area clean and safe.
Leeds City Council housing officers carried out home visits to local residents which gave local residents the opportunity to speak with housing and discuss any concerns they may have. This allowed those unable to reach the Council at various hubs across Leeds to speak in person with a Council officer.
Also present on the streets of Cottingley was the Leeds City Council Leeds Watch van. The purpose of the van is to capture footage which may otherwise not be caught by static cameras. We are pleased to report that during the patrols, no incidents or note were seen.
Neighbourhood Policing officers also spent the day at Cottingley Primary Academy. The pupils at the school were fantastic, asking officers lots of questions and getting involved with trying on uniforms and helmets and sitting in the police car and on the off road police motorbike. Officers reminded the children of what number to ring if they ever needed help from the Police, Fire Service or Ambulance (999 in case anyone needed reminding) and the importance of being able to speak to their teachers if anything was concerning them.
Collaboratively, with all partner agencies, we carried out multiple positive community engagement events as well as carrying out law enforcement, targeting community hotspots and areas of community concern. The day was a great success!
The Police and the Council rely on members of the public to provide us with community intelligence to be able to take positive action against crime in your area. If you are aware of any criminal activity in your area including anti-social behaviour, then please report to the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, please speak to your housing officer or report to the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team.
This post was written by Sergeant Chloe Spencer of the Leeds South Neighbourhood Policing Team
Main photo: Police, LCC housing and anti-social behaviour staff at Cottingley Community Centre
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