Wakefield Council welcomes boost to neighbourhood policing

Wakefield Council has welcomed a boost to neighbourhood policing in Wakefield, Castleford and Pontefract.

This will mean increased patrols and more neighbourhood officers on the streets in a bid to further crack down on crime and antisocial behaviour.  

The Council and West Yorkshire Police have recently joined with partners to launch the Wakefield City Anti-Social Behaviour Task Force.

in addition to the increase in neighbourhood police patrols, two extra enforcement officers have also been successfully funded, and extra patrols have already started. This additional presence on the streets will help to respond to issues and make people feel safer.  

Plans are also in place to review Public Space Protection Orders. So that more powers can be available to tackle aggressive begging, substance misuse and anti-social gatherings. 

Cllr Jeffery continued: “More police on our streets has been a key ambition of our partnership work to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. We’ve recently launched the Wakefield City Anti-Social Behaviour Task Force. We’re reviewing the powers available to tackle aggressive begging, substance misuse, and anti-social gatherings. And want to have more enforcement officers on the streets so that people feel safer. 

“We’ll continue to use the full extent of the law when we need to. Building on our track record in 2024-25 where we successfully applied for 32 criminal behaviour orders. Had four Public Spaces Protection Orders in place. And issued 164 fixed penalty notices for anti-social and nuisance behaviour.

“All of these steps are important to make sure our district is as safe and welcoming as it can be.”

The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee recently announced by the government means 11 more officers are now patrolling Wakefield as part of the local neighbourhood police teams.   
  
Five of those officers are based in Wakefield city centre, four in Castleford and two in Pontefract, enabling visible patrols to take place seven days a week in each town centre and allowing for the creation of new teams.   

Emma Hooks, Chief Inspector for Partnerships and Neighbourhoods in Wakefield, said: “Neighbourhood policing is already at the heart of how we prevent crime and antisocial behaviour in Wakefield, working with our partners to take a ‘tackle not tolerance’ approach.  
  
“Our neighbourhood officers and PCSOs develop strong links to the areas they police and we have seen marked reductions in retail crime in recent months.  
  
“Expanding our neighbourhood police teams further will allow us to conduct more high-visibility patrols on our streets and put more resources into tackling issues like anti-social behaviour at a local level. Ultimately, I hope this will increase the trust and confidence of our communities in the police.”  

Yvette Cooper MP said: “For years we have been calling for more neighbourhood police in our town centres. Now, thanks to the new Government’s Neighbourhood Policing plan and investment we are getting additional officers starting in Castleford and Pontefract town centres to tackle antisocial behaviour and local crime. This is really important news for our towns. West Yorkshire Police have said this will mean neighbourhood policing seven days a week for Castleford and Pontefract instead of the current shift pattern where criminals can too easily work out what days the neighbourhood police aren’t around. The extra £200m for neighbourhood policing provided by the Government is funding 100 new neighbourhood officers across West Yorkshire as well as the extra bobbies on the beat in our towns. “

Simon Lightwood MP said: "Crime and antisocial behaviour in Wakefield city centre has been a major concern for residents, businesses and visitors alike - it's something I've constantly campaigned on since my election in 2022.  
  
"In July, the public gave us a clear mandate: take back our streets. 
  
"Now, with the district’s very own Yvette Cooper at the helm in the Home Office, our Labour government is delivering. 
  
"We’re doubling police presence in the city centre — tackling crime, cracking down on antisocial behaviour, and fundamentally, making sure people feel safe again with a visible police presence.”