Labour Leader salutes new ‘eyes and ears’ in fight against crime

Leader of Leeds Labour Group Councillor Keith Wakefield has hailed the impact of Police Community Support Officers in the city as part of his current campaign to crack down on anti-social behaviour.

The Leader of Leeds City Council joined two of the officers on their beat in the city centre today to see for himself and discuss with them the nature of their work since they took to the streets in May.

A Government-led pilot scheme, there are currently between 60 and 70 Police Community Support Officers employed by West Yorkshire Police in Leeds, who work in tandem with the force as well as the City Council’s Street Wardens and Neighbourhood Wardens to add another group of eyes and ears to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Keith Wakefield said: "Since they’ve been introduced, I’ve been hearing great things about the Police Community Support Officers. The public feel safer when they see a uniformed officer on the streets, so they are having a major impact in terms of helping to reassure people.

"Along with West Yorkshire Police, the Street Wardens and the Neighbourhood Wardens, the new officers are doing a great job in tightening the screw still further on those who think they can get away with causing crime and anti-social behaviour in this city.

"We are determined that the minority should not be allowed to spoil the city for the majority who are good, hard-working people in Leeds, and these new officers give us another line of attack in order for us to stop that happening."

Not only do the uniformed officers give an increased police presence on the streets, they also ease some of the workload on West Yorkshire Police, allowing them to focus more on other crimes, especially those of a more serious nature.

Under their special powers the Police Community Support Officers can detain people for a single offence, something which those in other areas of the country cannot. Among those powers is the authority to stop and search vehicles and belongings, as well as being able to stop alcohol being drunk in public.

Under-age drinkers also comes under their range of powers, as they can confiscate and dispose of any alcohol or tobacco that youngsters have in their possession, while they can also serve fixed penalty notices for a variety of offences.

The officers are also working closely with communities to solve local problems, with the aim being that familiarity and co-operation can help bring people closer together and therefore reduce crime.

Councillor Wakefield added: "The more the officers get to know the communities they work in and the people that live there the better. Familiarity can be a major weapon in the fight against crime, and this is a fight which we are determined to win as we strive to make Leeds a better place to live."