Minutes:
Inspector Nicholls and Sargent Attree from Leeds East Neighbourhood Policing Team attended the meeting and provided an overview of the work that has taken place in the Inner East Community Committee area, as well as a snapshot of some local statistics. The following information was provided:
· Members were informed of comparative figures in terms of January – February 2023 to January – February 2024, for the Inner East Community Committee area. Things to note included:
o A spike in figures in terms of theft from motor vehicles in the Burmantofts and Richmond Hill ward.
o An increase in robberies focusing on the Harehills Lane area.
o A spike in residential burglaries in the Killingbeck and Seacroft ward. Crime prevention officers are working with people to provide guidance on trembler alarms and window catchers. Hotspot locations are also being considered in terms of carrying out patrols.
o There doesn’t seem to be a real change in anti-social behaviour related statistics, it either remains the same or has dropped slightly.
o Nuisance vehicles has increased slightly, with no trends or spikes. This changes the priority for Inner East Leeds and moves away from vehicle crime and ‘Operation Diesel Crest’.
· In total, 300 individuals have been arrested, 60 of which have been issued warrants, which in total, have generated 40 years of sustainable sentences.
· There has been an operation with letting agents where police are targeting a reduction of cannabis through the landlord. 3 people in Leeds in the last day have been arrested with a conspiracy to product cannabis and money laundering.
· The priority for Inner East Leeds will now be serious organised crime and risks posed by urban street gangs. All of which are issues affecting all the people who live in East Leeds. The police will look at gangs dealing with drugs. Targeted work should see a reduction. The police have already done work around gang crime and are looking at getting closure orders and injunctions. A specific gang has been targeted, and 4 people have been charged so far, with 6 more of them going to court.
· It is acknowledged that there is preventative work to be done around educational work in building colleges and the military. There is also an education officer being recruited for to work across East Leeds delivering education sessions to young people. It is understood that some people feel as though they have no other option, and it is an easy way to make money without fully understanding that lifestyle.
Members thanked the officers in attendance for all their work in the local area and acknowledged the difficulty of their job.
In responding to a question regarding the officers’ place of work, it was confirmed they will continue to be based at Killingbeck Fire Station.
The police commented on the effective partnership working with organisations and elected members to be able to target and address issues.
Councillors Khan and Tudor left at 18:15, during discussion of this item.
The police also confirmed that there is working operations on-going with partners around shisha bars, and 120 tickets have been issued in the last 2 months. The police and LCCs Cleaner Neighbourhood Team are carrying out visits, focusing on the city. Further to this, a member commented on an obstruction of a highway at a shisha bar in Lincoln Green Moss and issues associated with aggressive begging. It was confirmed that LCCs Parking Enforcement have been involved. The Chair confirmed that after having spoken to Parking Enforcement, over 1000 tickets are issued in the Burmantofts and Richmond Hill ward and Gipton and Harehills on a weekly basis, and for those persistent offenders.
Members also acknowledged parking issues associated with local schools. The police suggested that a repeated operation is not a long-term sustainable solution and suggested that a permit system or LCCs school street initiative.