A NUMBER of youths have been referred to partner agencies after an attempted break-in at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre.

Police were scrambled to the former leisure centre at 5.30pm on Monday after reports of intruders inside the Grade II listed building.

There was a large presence spotted at the scene, with five police vehicles and several officers along part of Rooley Avenue. 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

West Yorkshire Police said in a statement on Monday that a number of people were arrested.

The Telegraph & Argus asked the force this morning how many individuals were detained, how old they were and what offences they were arrested on suspicion of.

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police responded to say it was an attempted burglary or break-in and that there would be no further details.

After being pressed further by the T&A, the spokesperson added: "A number of youths were spoken to by police and referred to relevant support agencies."

Concerns about the security of the derelict building were expressed on the T&A's Facebook page after news of the attempted break-in was published.

Joanne Skelton said: “What do they expect? It's been left to rot... Should never have closed in the first place.

"If it's a listed building at least do something meaningful with it.”

Jan Ireland said: “Why don't BMDC use their heads... do it up and use it instead of wasting council tax payers' money on new hideous builds.”

Phil Berg said: “If it’s listed do something with it and make it secure.”

 

The T&A contacted Bradford Council and asked whether the security of the building would be reviewed in the wake of the incident. 

A spokesperson for the local authority said: "This is subject to an active police investigation so it would be inappropriate for us to comment on this."

The Richard Dunn Centre - which was built in 1974 -was due to be demolished late in 2022 but the cavernous domed building received listed status from Historic England in April 2022, to the shock of many.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: People queueing to get into the Richard Dunne Sports Centre in its heydayPeople queueing to get into the Richard Dunne Sports Centre in its heyday (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Overnight it became one of the most protected structures in the city, throwing the question of its future into doubt.

The Twentieth Century Society, which campaigns for the preservation of buildings constructed after 1914, made a request to Historic England to have the building listed.

The organisation announced on April 5, 2022 that this request had been successful, and it was now a Grade II-listed building.