Extra Funding for Leeds Police

Home Secretary David Blunkett announced extra police funding for Leeds yesterday under the Safer Communities Initiative. Leeds has gained the second largest grant in the country, an extra £362,778 for 2002/03.

1. The money is for local ‘crime and disorder reduction partnerships’ between police and community groups, and can be spent on

2. Targeted police activity in crime hotspots, including special operations, mobile police stations and high visibility policing;

3. Tackling repeat victimisation through anti-burglary projects;

4. Tackling persistent offending through targeting prolific offenders and improving security;

5. Tackling anti-social behaviour through interventions such as pub watch schemes, approved tenancy schemes and anti-social behaviour orders;

6. Youth inclusion work, including support programmes for young people at risk, youth diversion schemes and work with schools to reduce truancy.

“I am delighted that Leeds has been successful in gaining this extra money” said John Battle, Labour MP for Leeds West. “It will allow more local initiatives to cut crime and reduce fear of crime, with police and local communities working closely together.”

Mr Blunkett praised Kingston upon Hull’s mobile ‘Community Copshop’. Bringing the police and their communities closer together led to nearly 4,000 visits to the unit as it spent time in the heart of ten of Hull’s crime hotspots. In one area, Grandale, disorder was reduced by 82%; youths causing annoyance fell by 88%, theft of motor vehicles was down by 67% and burglaries of dwellings decreased by 62%, according to Humberside police data

“I am campaigning for local police shops like this in Leeds West - in Armley Town Street, Bramley Town Street, and Hawksworth Wood,” added Mr Battle, “it’s important that different cities learn from each others’ successes.”