The containment of isolated incidents of violence in Leeds, during national riots in August, has once again demonstrated that a strong partnership between Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Police and other representatives on the Safer Leeds Executive, delivers positive outcomes for people in Leeds.
This Council extends its thanks and appreciation to community leaders, police officers, PCSOs and youth workers who worked to prevent further unrest. Council also recognises the hard work of street cleansing teams within communities affected by isolated incidents of disorder.
Strong leadership and a commitment to democratic engagement from Police Divisional Command was invaluable during this difficult period.
This Council believes that 20% budget cuts will make it harder for the police to keep the streets safe and maintain order.
Council therefore calls upon the Government to abandon plans to spend £100 million introducing directly elected police commissioners and to instead ensure forces have the resources they need to provide effective community policing.
Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary and all Leeds MPs in order to highlight the importance of prioritising community policing, particularly at a time of budget reductions.
P GRUEN
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor Gruen, seconded by Councillor Lowe, that the containment of isolated incidents of violence in Leeds, during national riots in August, has once again demonstrated that a strong partnership between Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Police and other representatives on the Safer Leeds Executive, delivers positive outcomes for people in Leeds.
This Council extends its thanks and appreciation to community leaders, police officers, PCSOs and youth workers who worked to prevent further unrest. Council also recognises the hard work of street cleansing teams within communities affected by isolated incidents of disorder.
Strong leadership and a commitment to democratic engagement from Police Divisional Command was invaluable during this difficult period.
This Council believes that 20% budget cuts will make it harder for the police to keep the streets safe and maintain order.
Council therefore calls upon the Government to abandon plans to spend £100 million introducing directly elected police commissioners and to instead ensure forces have the resources they need to provide effective community policing.
Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary and all Leeds MPs in order to highlight the importance of prioritising community policing, particularly at a time of budget reductions.
An amendment was moved by Councillor Downes, seconded by Councillor Hamilton, to delete paragraphs 4 and 5 and replace with:-
‘Council notes reports that 75% of those arrested and charged in connection with the recent riots were re-offenders. Council believes that the criminal justice system has failed to tackle re-offending in the past and believes that a wider range of tools to prevent re-offending, in particular ‘restorative justice’ measures, will reduce such outbreaks of criminality in the future.’
Following ‘community policing’ in paragraph 6 add :-
‘and restorative justice measures’
A second amendment was moved by Councillor J L Carter, seconded by Councillor C Fox, to insert ‘and local ward Councillors’ in paragraph 2, replace ‘Police Divisional Command’ with ‘Leeds Divisional Commanders’ in paragraph 3, and Delete all after ‘during this difficult period’ and replace with:
‘This Council condemns the actions of a criminal minority that brought chaos to the streets of several major cities this Summer and pledges to offer unstinting support to the Police as it seeks to bring those responsible to justice.
This Council further supports the efforts of West Yorkshire Police Force and West Yorkshire Police Authority as they seek to make back office savings and notes the work done to re-organise and review policing structures to protect front line resources. Council further notes the Force’s ‘Here for Good’ campaign that makes a strong commitment to frontline neighbourhood policing in a challenging financial climate.
Whilst this Council is opposed to the introduction of police commissioners it considers that should such elections take place the Government should pay the additional costs of the elections, over and above the £50 million they have already allocated, in order that scarce resources are not diverted away from neighbourhood policing.
Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary and all Leeds MPs in order to request that these additional costs are met by central Government.’
The amended motion would read:-
‘The containment of isolated incidents of violence in Leeds, during national riots in August, has once again demonstrated that a strong partnership between Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Police and other representatives on the Safer Leeds Executive, delivers positive outcomes for people in Leeds.
This Council extends its thanks and appreciation to community leaders, police officers, PCSOs, youth workers and local ward councillors who worked to prevent further unrest. Council also recognises the hard work of street cleansing teams within communities affected by isolated incidents of disorder.
Strong leadership and a commitment to democratic engagement from Leeds Divisional Commanders was invaluable during this difficult period.
This Council condemns the actions of a criminal minority that brought chaos to the streets of several major cities this Summer and pledges to offer unstinting support to the Police as it seeks to bring those responsible to justice.
This Council further supports the efforts of West Yorkshire Police Force and West Yorkshire Police Authority as they seek to make back office savings and notes the work done to re-organise and review policing structures to protect front line resources. Council further notes the Force’s ‘Here for Good’ campaign that makes a strong commitment to frontline neighbourhood policing in a challenging financial climate.
Whilst this Council is opposed to the introduction of police commissioners it considers that should such elections take place the Government should pay the additional costs of the elections, over and above the £50 million they have already allocated, in order that scarce resources are not diverted away from neighbourhood policing.
Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary and all Leeds MPs in order to request that these additional costs are met by central Government.’
Prior to the vote on this matter, Councillor Downes, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14.11 and with the consent of the seconder and of Council, withdrew the amendment in his name.
The remaining amendment was lost and, upon the motion being put to the vote it was
RESOLVED – That the containment of isolated incidents of violence in Leeds, during national riots in August, has once again demonstrated that a strong partnership between Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Police and other representatives on the Safer Leeds Executive, delivers positive outcomes for people in Leeds.
This Council extends its thanks and appreciation to community leaders, police officers, PCSOs and youth workers who worked to prevent further unrest. Council also recognises the hard work of street cleansing teams within communities affected by isolated incidents of disorder.
Strong leadership and a commitment to democratic engagement from Police Divisional Command was invaluable during this difficult period.
This Council believes that 20% budget cuts will make it harder for the police to keep the streets safe and maintain order.
Council therefore calls upon the Government to abandon plans to spend £100 million introducing directly elected police commissioners and to instead ensure forces have the resources they need to provide effective community policing.
Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary and all Leeds MPs in order to highlight the importance of prioritising community policing, particularly at a time of budget reductions.
On the requisition of Councillors J Lewis and Nash, the voting on the motion in the name of Councillor Gruen was recorded as follows:-
YES
Akhtar, Armitage, Atha, A Blackburn, Blake, Bruce, Charlwood, Congreve, Coulson, Davey, Dawson, Dobson, Dowson, Driver, Dunn, Elliott, Gabriel, P Grahame, R Grahame, Groves, Gruen, Hanley, Hardy, G Harper, J Harper, A Hussain, G Hussain, G Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, Khan, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, MacNiven, Maqsood, A McKenna, J McKenna, Mitchell, Morgan, Mulherin, Murray, Nash, Ogilvie, Parker, Rafique, Selby, Taggart, E Taylor, Varley, Wakefield, Walshaw, Yeadon.
55
NO
Bentley, Chapman, Chastney, Cleasby, Downes, Ewens, Golton, M Hamilton, Kirkland, Matthews, Pryke, Townsley, Wilson.
13
ABSTAIN
0