Wakefield East

Covering : Ackworth, Airedale, Castleford, Ferry Fryston, Glasshoughton, Hemsworth, Knottingley, North Elmsall, Pontefract, South Elmsall, South Kirkby, Upton and surrounding areas. 

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Neighbourhood Priorities

Wakefield East NPT Inspector: G Costello

Wards 1, 7, 14: Ackworth, North Elmsall, Upton, Hemsworth, South Elmsall and South Kirkby. 
Reviewed & updated 1st September 2023

Lead Area Sergeant: PS 1129 Lockwood
Lead Area Problem Solving Officer: PC 3328 Davies

•    Tackle and disrupt the illegal supply of drugs in the whole of the South East NPT area. We are committed to investigating and developing intelligence received in relation to drugs. Whether that be in relation to possession, dealing or production. We have successfully executed numerous warrants in recent months and will continue to execute more.
You can help us by reporting any information or concerns you have directly to us or by using Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org

South East NPT and the Wakefield Neighbourhood Impact Team continue to carry out numerous drugs warrants throughout the South East area led by community intelligence; numerous persons have been arrested and drugs have been seized. We are committed to investigating and developing intelligence received in relation to drugs. Working with the community we will act on reports and intelligence. We have stop and search a number of people across the South East and investigations are still ongoing, we will continue to act robustly in order to tackle the issues within our communities.

•    Anti-Social Behaviour across the area, in particular Tesco and Victoria Street, Hemsworth. We are working closely with management at Tesco, Wakefield Council ASB Unit, Local Elected Members and Youth Intervention services to ensure members of the community can shop in a pleasant environment free of Anti-Social Behaviour. We will continue to provide high visibility patrols and engage with the youths involved. Disrupt activities and enforce the law where necessary. 

Working with Wakefield council ASB unit, we have successfully issued a number of Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBO) to repeat offenders, which has shown a reduction in crime within the area’s identified.

•    Anti-social vehicle use, off-road bikes, quads and speeding vehicles. We will increase patrols in and around local businesses, parks, and schools. We will increase the number of patrols and enforceable speeding operations. We will work with Police specialist units and in partnership with the local authority, taking positive action against offenders.

We have a number of planned operations to tackle dangerous drivers across all South East wards. We will be working with the WYP Mounted section to issue penalty notices to motorists committing offences during Operation Close Pass. We will be conducting speeding operations in conjunction with our specialist units and in partnership with the local authority in the identified areas of concern as reported by the local community. NPT officers will continue to conduct speed surveys and enforceable traffic operations at various locations across the area.

Ward 9: Knottingley
Reviewed & updated 1st September 2023

Lead Area Sergeant: PS 4620 Crisp
Lead Area Problem Solving Officers: 
Knottingley: PC 5974 Jones, PC 2672 Lewis 
Warwick: PC 526 Ragsdale, PC 1232 Pool 

•    Anti-social behaviour around the Hill Top Area and Retail Park. We are committed to tackling youth ASB in this area by having a consistent policing footprint and a designated PCSO. We are working closely with Partner Agencies to tackle ASB and related offences such as vagrancy through both engagement and enforcement tactics. We plan to deal with this issue by increasing high visibility patrols in the area. We will also use ASB Legislation if required to prevent the youths from returning to the location if warnings are not heeded. We will focus in particular around ASB hot spots, working with our partners and local businesses collaboratively.

ASB remains low in Knottingley and local NPT officers are still involved the ever-popular community youth sports sessions at the Addy. This keeps young people engaged with local officers and diverted aware from any trouble. Our early intervention teams also work closely with offenders to deliver vital sessions to rehabilitate those who need further support. 

Ward 12 Pontefract
Reviewed & updated 1st September 2023

Lead Area Sergeant: PS 4620 Crisp
Lead Area Problem Solving Officers: PC 4320 Dale, PC 2734 Turford 

•    Pontefract Town Centre and bus station. We are committed to tackling youth ASB in the town centre by having a consistent policing footprint and a designated PCSO. We are working closely with Partner Agencies to tackle ASB and related offences such as vagrancy through both engagement and enforcement tactics. We plan to deal with this issue by increasing high visibility patrols in the area. We will also use ASB Legislation if required to prevent the youths from returning to the location if warnings are not heeded. We will focus around ASB hot spots; Valley Gardens, Town Centre and Horsefair Flats. 

Local officers carried out a Safer Travel day of action in Pontefract last month. We had a strong visible presence in and around the bus station working closely with security. The local NPT Sergeant deployed in plain clothes as a mystery shopper supporting local businesses to combat retail theft and ASB. The officers issued various banning notices and local youths that are known to be involved we deterred from causing any problems. We have seen some reductions in crime and ASB in this area. The local PCSO has detained numerous wanted suspects for a variety of offences, including two for drug dealing. 

Ward 13 Pontefract South
Reviewed & updated 1st September 2023

Lead Area Sergeant: PS 4620 Crisp
Lead Area Problem Solving Officers: PC 2799 Michael Pointer, PC 4320 Luke Dale.

•    Traffic offences and speeding. We will be increasing patrols in the area and issuing penalty notices to any motorists committing offences when we can. We will also be looking at the issue of vehicles ignoring weight limit signs in Wentbridge Village which is being caused by the A1 roadworks This priority has been set following concerns raised by local residents and at the PACT meetings.We will also be looking at the issue of vehicles ignoring weight limit signs in Wentbridge Village which is being caused by the A1 roadworks This priority has been set following concerns raised by local residents and at the PACT meetings. 

NPT officers have carried out extra patrols in these areas and stopped a number of vehicles issuing fixed penalties. The problem we are encountering is that the road works are ongoing until April and drivers are not paying attention to the signs or not understanding them in terms of foreign lorry drivers. We are working with highways to review the situation and ensure that road safety is a priority, they are reviewing the signage and diversions. We ask that road users be patient and follow adhere to signs put in place for your road safety.

Ward 2 Airedale & Ferry Fryston
Reviewed & updated 1st September 2023                                                                      

Lead Area Sergeant: PS 1771 Jaworski 
Lead Area Problem Solving Officer: PC 841 Shaw

•    Anti-social Vehicle use including off-road bikes and uninsured / untaxed vehicles. We will target anti-social vehicle use including the nuisance use of off-road bikes and the use of uninsured / untaxed vehicles on the streets of Airedale & Ferry Fryston. We will increase patrols and continue to work in partnership with Roads Policing Units, Off-Road Bike Team, and other partners including Council ASB to tackle offenders utilising legislation under the banner of ‘Operation Mindstoke’.

We have increased patrols alongside the Off-Road Bike Team which have resulted in an increase in bike seizures and prosecutions for no insurance / no tax. We have carried out a number of enforceable speeding operations around Airedale with offenders being prosecuted. 
 

•    Tackle and disrupt the supply, cultivation and possession of drugs in the area. We will take action against drug dealing and drug possession across Airedale through executing warrants, targeted patrols, developing community intelligence and proactive policing measures. We are committed to investigating and developing intelligence received in relation to drugs. Working with the community we will act on reports and intelligence. You can help us by reporting any information or concerns you have directly to us or by using Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org

We have undertaken collaborative work with the Wakefield District Neighbourhood Impact Team to develop intelligence and execute drug warrants. A recent warrant executed by Castleford NPT resulted in arrests being made for a cannabis farm in Airedale as a result of Community Intelligence. Increased patrols have been conducted in hot-spot areas, including proactive measures by officers in plain clothes, resulting in an increase in arrests through utilisation of powers such as stop and searches.

Ward 4: Castleford Central & Glasshoughton. 
Reviewed & updated 1st September 2023 

Lead Area Sergeant: PS 1771 Jaworski
Lead Area Problem Solving Officer: PC 3972 Lazenby

•    Street drinking, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting in Castleford Town Centre. Enforcement of the Public Space Protection Order in partnership with Council Enforcement Officers by ticketing offenders who breach the order. We will continue to have high visibility patrols in the town centre as part of our daily business; liaising with local shops and businesses to identify and deter offenders and provide reassurance to all who visit Castleford. Identified offenders are dealt with robustly and we will work with council ASB officers to seek Criminal Behaviour Orders upon conviction. 

Action is continuing under the banner of ‘Operation Meritburg’ which has seen an increase of dedicated resources for Castleford town centre. Over the past 6 months there has been an identified decrease in criminality in Castleford town centre, particularly in theft from shop as a result of the collaborative approach of partners.

Partnership working continuing with the Castleford Town Centre Business Review Group to promote engagement with local businesses to improve the standards of the town centre to make it safe for all.
 

•    Tackle and disrupt the supply, cultivation and possession of drugs in the area. Take action against drug dealing and drug possession across the Castleford Central & Glasshoughton ward through executing warrants, targeted patrols, developing community intelligence and proactive policing measures. We are committed to investigating and developing intelligence received in relation to drugs. Working with the community and taking action on reports and intelligence received. You can help us by reporting any information or concerns you have directly to us or by using Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org

An increase in patrols around identified hot-spot areas from community intelligence has led to an increase in arrests through utilisation of powers such as stop and searches. Officers continue to work past their shift in plain clothes to target drug dealers within the community. The work in disrupting the supply of drugs is also mirrored in tackling vehicle offences as they are often linked. The team have taken steps to form relationships with charities who assist with the rehabilitation of offenders within the town centre.
 

 

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Do you recognise
Assault
Wakefield
Offence Date
Ref: WD5382
Theft From Shop
Wakefield
Offence Date
Ref: WD5375
Theft From Shop
Wakefield
Offence Date
Ref: WD5372
Theft From Shop
Wakefield
Offence Date
Ref: WD5371