Relief for residents as court action helps turn the tide on anti-social behaviour

Partial closure orders covering five blocks of flats near Hunslet Moor Park were granted to Leeds City Council by magistrates earlier this year following an investigation by West Yorkshire Police into local drug dealing activity.

The terms of the three-month orders meant it temporarily became an arrestable offence for unauthorised visitors to the flats to be present in communal spaces such as foyers, landings, stairwells and lifts.

This, it was hoped, would act as a deterrent to people who – by gaining entry to the buildings for the purpose of buying or selling drugs – had left many residents feeling distressed and intimidated.

It was also hoped that the threat of arrest would put a stop to youths hanging around the flats – despite living elsewhere – and making a general nuisance of themselves.

The restrictions covered the Crescent Grange and Crescent Towers high-rises as well as three low-rise blocks on nearby Moor Crescent Chase, off Dewsbury Road.

And their introduction had the desired effect, with residents saying the flats subsequently became safer and more pleasant places to live.

Should the situation there begin to worsen again, the council has the option of going back to court to seek a new set of partial closure orders.

The impact of the investigation – carried out by the police’s Team Leodis unit – was not limited to the flats alone.

Full closure orders were secured for six residential addresses in the wider Dewsbury Road area that were identified as hotspots for anti-social behaviour.

A number of cases were also found where criminals had attempted to exploit vulnerable members of the community, including people who had recently overcome addiction issues or had been rehoused after a period of homelessness.

Some of these cases involved a practice known as ‘cuckooing’, where a person’s home is taken over – often by force, coercion or deceit – and used as a base for storing, supplying or producing drugs as well as other unlawful activity.

Referrals were made – both within the council and to appropriate external agencies – to ensure that the victims identified during the investigation have the support they need to get their lives back on track.

And, in cases where people had been targeted in their own homes, partial closure restrictions – like the ones put in place at Crescent Grange, Crescent Towers and Moor Crescent Chase – were used as a way of deterring unwanted visitors.

In addition, criminal behaviour orders (CBOs) were imposed on three individuals following an application to the courts by Team Leodis.

The exact conditions of the CBOs vary from person to person, but for one of the three they included a five-year ban on entering any part of Beeston.

A breach of a CBO is a criminal offence that can lead to a custodial sentence of up to five years for adults or up to two years for those aged under 18.

Team Leodis’s work covered the stretch of Dewsbury Road that runs from the M621 flyover down to Beeston’s Cross Flatts Park, although its primary focus was the area around Crescent Grange, Crescent Towers and Moor Crescent Chase.

An overwhelming majority of the residents in the flats who were contacted during a recent police survey said there had been a reduction in anti-social behaviour following the introduction of the partial closure restrictions.

Responding to the survey, one person living in Crescent Towers said: “I haven’t seen anyone hanging around at all and haven’t seen people following anyone in.”

Another resident in Crescent Towers said: “Things seem to be better. Thank you for doing what you are doing and trying to make it better for us all.”

One resident on Moor Crescent Chase, meanwhile, said: “Things have calmed down a lot, there are very few people hanging round.”

Part-funded by the council’s housing service, Team Leodis primarily comprises police officers with expert knowledge of how court orders and injunctions can be used to stop crime and anti-social behaviour.

They focus on one part of the city at a time while tackling problems that are causing concern for council tenants, with support from housing, legal and other council staff as well as officers from local Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

Their work has previously achieved successful results in areas such as Holbeck, Holt Park, Seacroft and Little London.

Councillor Mary Harland, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, customer service and community safety, said:

“We want every single part of Leeds to be a place where people feel safe and secure, both at home and while they are going about their daily business.

“It’s really pleasing, therefore, to see the positive impact that Team Leodis’s latest deployment has had on these flats as well as the surrounding areas.

“The results show what can be achieved by a refusal to tolerate any sort of crime or anti-social behaviour and also underline the value of partnership working, in this case between the council and West Yorkshire Police.

“My thanks go to everyone involved with Team Leodis for their expertise, their tenacity and, above all, the difference they continue to make to communities across the city.”

Sergeant Edel Fox, from West Yorkshire Police’s Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team, said:

“This operation saw multiple police departments working closely with the council and other partners in the community, and has delivered significant results in the ongoing fight against crime.  

“This marks a strong step forward in our collective mission to bring offenders to justice and restore safety and confidence in the local area. But I want to stress that the work doesn’t end here. We remain in the area continuing this vital work in the Dewsbury Road area. 

“I would urge people to continue to report any issues so action can be taken. You can also sign up to West Yorkshire Police Community Alert to receive updates about what’s going on in your area as well as crime prevention advice.”  

Anyone with concerns about anti-social behaviour in their community can make a report via the council’s website or by calling 0113 222 4402.

ENDS