Councillor hits out at 'vicious circle' of criminality in Holme Wood

A dedicated operation was set up a year ago in the Holme Wood area to tackle criminality and anti-social behaviour.   

The blitz on crime on Bradford's biggest estate, led by Sergeant Daniel Stoker of the Bradford South Neighbourhood Policing Team, has resulted in more than 200 arrests and over £2 million of drugs being seized.

Plants seized at a cannabis farm in Holme Wood (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

Cllr Matt Edwards (Green, Tong) said: “Residents in Holme Wood have told me that the want to see action from the police to address crime in the area and since I have been elected this has been a big priority for me.

“Over the last year I have supported the local police team in their request for additional officers in the area and it’s working.

"Most residents appreciate the work Sergeant Stoker and the Neighbourhood Policing Team have been doing as part of this operation and the results speak for themselves.

“But as a society we do need to rethink how we tackle this issue long term. The lack of opportunities for people in places like Holme Wood, and the financial hardship that brings, is a big part of the problem.

Holme Wood estate, pictured

"The criminalisation of drug use is fuelling organised crime and until we address this, we are going to stay in this vicious circle.

“It’s a very complicated issue and what really worries me is that further cuts to Youth Services - which could be on the cards given the Council’s budget position – combined with the cost-of-living crisis could lead to a new generation of young people falling into criminality.”

Argument for drugs reform

It comes just weeks after a wider conversation on drugs and organised crime was held at Fountains Church. 

Held by Anyone's Child, the panel of five people shared their first-hand experience of the toll of drugs on communities. 

It costs around £50,000 to send someone away to prison for supplying heroin, the audience heard.

This is money that panellists believed should be funnelled into safe drug-taking spaces, medical prescriptions of heroin, dosage recommendations and ingredients lists on drugs, and wider support within the system.

Giving the Government legal control and regulation of the drug market was one of their key suggestions for society.

It comes as the Scottish government moves towards treating and supporting those found in possession of drugs, instead of criminalisation and exclusion. 

“It takes the entire drug market away from organised crime,” said JS Rafaeli, author of three widely acclaimed books on drugs and racism.

“If you add up all criminal activity, and multiply it by five, you will touch the money that comes from the drug market. Making drugs illegal is the greatest gift to organised crime in the history of the world. At one stroke you take all that power, all that money, all that ability to inflict pain and terror on people, away from criminals.”

Targeting drugs and crime in Holme Wood 

• The police along with partners have seized more than £2 million pounds worth of cannabis and Class A Drugs from the streets.  
•   In the last year more than 200 people have been arrested and six people have been recalled to prison. 
• Bradford South Neighbourhood Policing team have executed more than 60 address searches which break down to 48 Class B Drugs searches, eight Class A Drugs searches and five theft warrants.   
• A total of 2,739 cannabis plants have been seized in that time with an estimated value of more than £2 million pounds. 
• Fifty bikes and 87 cars have been seized.