2020 has been a very different year for us all and not one that any of us could have imagined. The challenges for people both personally and professionally have been unprecedented and for policing it has been a very challenging year for us.
Sadly, Christmas will look a lot different for all of us. Whilst legislation has been changed to allow small number of family and friends to get together please ensure that you are complying with regulations and if you are unsure please check the latest guidance which can be found at www.gov.uk.
Despite the challenges and increased demand that we are facing the South Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) are continuing to work hard to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and the issues that matter to you most. This month has been no exception and we have had a strong focus on tackling the illegal supply of drugs and the anti-social behaviour that is associated with this.
Over the past four weeks the team has executed a number of drugs warrants in Beeston, Holbeck, Middleton, Hunslet and Belle Isle. As a result of these warrants a significant amount of Class A and Class B drugs have been recovered and arrests made.
The Middleton and Belle Isle area has seen an increase in anti-social behaviour (ASB), particularly with young people involved. We have received many reports of young people throwing stones and other objects causing damage to houses, buses and vehicles.
This is completely unacceptable and we are working hard in partnership to tackle this. We have managed to secure a specialist team of ASB officers who have been seconded into the area to help us solve this problem. They are currently obtaining all the evidence and are working with partners including the Leeds City Council ASB team, Leedswatch CCTV, schools, the Youth Justice Service and others to try and reduce these issues, which I know are a great concern to residents in these areas. This behaviour will not be tolerated and I would encourage anyone with any information about who is engaging in this to contact our NPT.
Whilst covering Middleton one of my team were lucky enough to have a little present put on their car by a kind young boy and his mum. He wanted to show his appreciate to the work that the officers do on a daily basis and I know the officers were very grateful so thank you!
This month has included Road Safety week. As part of this week we have conducted a number of speed checks across South Leeds, whilst I am pleased to report that the vast majority that were checked were complying with the speed limit, the relevant action was taken against those that were not.
Tackling the illegal and anti-social use of vehicles continues to be one of our priorities and on 31 October we received reports of number bikes and quads in South Leeds. We were able to utilise local officers as well as those from specialist teams and 8 quads and bikes were seized and 7 people arrested. The investigation is on-going. Throughout November we continued to seize a large number of bikes which have now taken off the streets.
As stated it has been a very busy month for us but we feel very fortunate to be able to continue to work in the community to make it safer and feel safer. I want to finish by wishing everyone a peaceful Christmas period, please stay safe and look after your friends, family and your community.
Inspector Lucy Leadbeater
Main photo: a seized quad bike
So great to know drug dealers are getting caught and illegal use of quad bikes is getting dealt with. Fantastic that our police are out there working so hard.