Plain clothes police officers have initiated a sweep of individuals engaging in criminal activities in Kirklees, following the commencement of special patrols aimed at apprehending suspects involved in crimes within larger stores.
The Batley and Spen Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) has recently commenced plainclothes patrols in supermarkets located in Heckmondwike, with the goal of identifying and addressing individuals engaged in criminal activities.
As part of a broader police initiative in Kirklees to support national operations such as Operation Sceptre and Operation Calibre Weeks of action, detectives have apprehended a man wanted for a supermarket robbery in Heckmondwike.
These weeks of action focus on reducing knife-related crime and robbery, leading to increased police presence and activity throughout Kirklees and West Yorkshire.
In the Batley and Spen area, additional efforts have included highly visible operations on the Greenway between Heckmondwike and Cleckheaton, weapons sweeps in Cleckheaton parks, and community events in Batley.
Meanwhile, Neighbourhood Police in Huddersfield and Dewsbury have conducted weapons sweeps in parks and open spaces throughout the week, along with educational awareness events in schools. To reassure bus network users, officers have deployed a knife arch in Dewsbury bus station.
Proactive officers have been diligently working to locate wanted suspects, resulting in four arrests so far, with one male already charged and set to appear before the courts.
Further proactive policing is planned for the weekend, with officers continuing patrols to apprehend wanted offenders.
Inspector David Bates of the Batley and Spen NPT, said: “We have been pleased to join colleagues from across the force in taking part in these weeks of action which are intended to complement the significant amount of work which remains ongoing to prevent knife crime and violent offending.
“Within Batley and Spen, we know residents and businesses have been concerned about retail crime and anti-social behaviour in Heckmondwike and Cleckheaton and have launched plain clothes activity to both identify and catch suspects. We’ve also increased visible patrols in hotspots to deter offending as well as engage with young people to see what other measures we can take to discourage low-level anti-social behaviour.”
DS Andrew Holmes of Kirklees District CID, said: “Proactive officers have been deployed across the district this week seeking persons wanted for violent offences, with a number of arrests now made. This activity will continue and I want to thank residents who have responded to our wanted persons appeals and contacted us with information. “Intelligence of this kind from communities is vital in helping us track down persons who have been evading justice and preventing them from going on to commit further offending.”
