DANGER drivers, drugs criminals and wanted offenders have been taken to task in Kirklees as part of a national week of action to celebrate neighbourhood policing.  

Officers from neighbourhood policing teams across Kirklees took part in the 2023 Neighbourhood Policing Week of Action between January 23 and 28th.

Activity in Huddersfield included two drugs warrants at properties in Birkby which saw a combined 210 cannabis plants seized with enquiries still ongoing by Huddersfield NPT officers.

The team also conducted knife sweeps behind North Huddersfield Trust school in a wooded area and engaged in patrols around the school itself.

Other activity in a packed week included a traffic operation in Lindley/Deighton concentrating outside primary schools to educate drivers and parents regarding their parking with warning letters issued to some owners and drivers.

A pedal cycle stamping operation was conducted in Huddersfield at St Georges Square, and high visibility patrols were held at the bus station to deter youths from becoming involved in ASB in the station and adjacent car parks.

Meanwhile, colleagues from the Kirklees Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team worked in partnership with the Kirklees Police Catch and Control team, DVLA and DVSA to carry out targeted speed checks and locate defective vehicles. 

In an operation, 12 speeding tickets were issued and five traffic offence reports made.  

Officers from the Batley and Spen NPT, also conducted work to hunt down most wanted offenders, promoted Safe Zone spaces in retail areas and staged proactive patrols to deter anti-social behaviour.

A day of action on January 28, saw the team join forces with colleagues from Kirklees Council Taxi Licencing as well as with officers from DVSA/VOSA to conduct a traffic operation on Wilton Park.

Numerous vehicles were stopped including 17 taxis, with three taxi drivers issued with licence suspensions for violations.  

Drivers were also dealt with for issues including having no insurance, MOT or lighting offences.

Superintendent Helen Brear of Kirklees Police, said: “The NPT week of action has seen colleagues really pull out the stops to mount a significant number of operations designed to address key issues in their communities. 
“Problem-solving policing and early intervention have been focuses of the week and that has been reflected in many of the initiative’s officers have been involved in.
“They have included large-scale drug seizures, weapons sweeps and some significant joint work with partners to get unsafe vehicles and unsafe drivers off our roads.
“Traditional crime prevention work such as ASB prevention patrols, engagement with schools and our bike marking events have also been ongoing across many of our communities. These are great ways for us to engage with our residents, promote community safety and deter potential criminal activity.

She added: “Neighbourhood Policing is a 365 day a year business and it can only work well if residents keep in touch with their teams and let them know what their priorities are.
“We continue to urge residents who want to know more about the local policing on their streets or who have issues they want to raise to contact their NPT via a whole host of contact methods publicised on the West Yorkshire police website."

Want to keep up with all the latest court and crime news? Join our Bradford Crime & Breaking News Facebook group

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Have you got a story for us? Email newsdesk@telegraphandargus.co.uk or contact us here, or call us on 01274 705292.