Safer Leeds priorities for 2015-2016 set to be discussed by executive board

Senior councillors will be given the opportunity next week to discuss how Safer Leeds is proposing to tackle and reduce crime in the city over the next year.

As part of a report submitted to Leeds City Council’s executive board on 23 September, members have the chance to consider the draft Safer Leeds Strategy and its proposed priorities for 2015-2016. Featuring in the key priorities include; prevent nuisance and anti-social behaviour, reduce the occurrence and impact of Hate Crime, protect children and adults from sexual exploitation, preventing domestic violence and abuse for those at risk and break cycles of reoffending.

The aim of the strategy is to build on the positive work currently being undertaken in the city by Safer Leeds, which is made up by partners including Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Police, the National probation Service, Community Rehabilitation Company, health, fire and clinical commissioning groups.

Since 2011, targeted work to tackle burglary has resulted in a sustained reduction in the city which now stands at over 45%, while satisfaction rates of residents who have used the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team (LASBT) are currently running at 94%. In 2014 a new hate crime charter was also launched in Leeds as part of a concerted effort to tackle this particular problem head-on.

Following concerns which were raised by residents across the city regarding noise nuisance, a revamp of the LASBT service by Safer Leeds in 2013 has also yielded positive results. Figures for 2014/2015 saw 534 Noise Abatement Notices issued against individuals living at properties due to unacceptable levels of noise, while equipment ranging from laptops, music speakers, televisions and computers was seized from 22 properties and three Premise Closure Orders also secured.

If agreed by members of the executive board, the draft strategy will then be submitted to a full meeting of council for final approval on 11 November 2015.

For a full copy of the executive report, please see: http://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/documents/s136994/Safer%20Leeds%20Strategy%20Cover%20Report%20140915%20V2.pdf

Councillor Mark Dobson, Leeds City Council’s executive board member with responsibility for Safer Leeds said:

“With partners at Safer Leeds, we are working extremely hard to tackle and reduce crime in Leeds and through the development of this wide-ranging draft strategy we have set out our priorities for the next year, which we hope the executive board will agree can be referred to a future meeting of full council for final approval.

“While we have seen some very positive results through the partnership, such as for example a significant reduction in the number of burglaries in Leeds since 2011 and targeted work to meet the challenge of noise nuisance, we are certainly not complacent. We know there is still a lot to be done, and the aim of this strategy is to not stand still, but to build on what has been undertaken and achieved so far, and take further steps to improve the service that we offer to the people of Leeds.”

Superintendent Sam Millar, who heads Safer Leeds, said:

"This draft strategy sets out how the police, council and other agencies will continue to work together to tackle the issues that impact most on our local communities. By working in partnership rather than in isolation, we can take a holistic approach to address the causes and motivations behind crime and anti-social behaviour, developing long-term solutions rather than just quick fixes.

"The work undertaken by Safer Leeds has already seen significant reductions in burglary offences, increased enforcement for noise nuisance issues and rising satisfaction levels for victims of anti-social behaviour. We are committed to continuing this work to make Leeds a safer place to live, work and visit."

 Notes to editors:

The full proposed list of Safer Leeds priorities in its draft 2015/2016 strategy are: prevent nuisance and anti-social behaviour, reduce the aggravating effect of alcohol and drugs on crime and anti-social behaviour, reduce the occurrence and impact of hate crime, prevent domestic violence and abuse for those at risk, protect children and adults from sexual exploitation, provide appropriate support for victims and offenders with mental health needs, break cycles of reoffending, early identification of those at risk of becoming involved in criminality and prevent victimisation from acquisitive crime.

In 2011 there were almost 9,000 burglary dwellings recorded in Leeds. In the last 12 months there were less than 5,000 offences recorded per year.

For media enquiries, please contact;

Colin Dickinson, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 39 51578

Email: colin.dickinson@leeds.gov.uk