POLICE DETAILS
West Yorkshire Police - Wakefield Central Neighbourhood

To reduce City Centre Crime and anti-social behaviour through a strategic mix of covert and overt proactive policing activity. Working closely with partners, exploring all investigatory opportunities and maximising both offender control and victim safeguarding through the robust use of criminal and civil legislation. Partnership campaigns delivering shared agenda messaging, reducing demand to all agencies, and making the City Centre community safer and feel safer.

We have seen notable results in the City Centre with the Operation Moralmoor and the Summer Surge Uplift Programme and we are now focussing on the Winter Initiative, looking at further reducing crime and anti-social behaviour in the City Centre and retail parks.  Residents and elected members have recently raised concerns with regard to localised drug dealing and associated ASB, in particular around Darnley Fisheries, we are building an intelligence picture and overt and covert operations are underway. The successful application for Gang Injunctions on three mapped Organised Crime Gang members provides the team with new proactive powers which we are looking to maximise the use of with a view to safeguarding the community from criminal exploitation

The team are focussing efforts on the criminal element being found in the Luspet area. Recently obtained community intelligence pays mention to increased street dealing, especially around the Aysgarth’s, and there is suggestion that there are strong links to County Lines activity. Other areas of the cluster has seen issues between various crime groups and I am keen to ensure that the Wakefield West Ward is not drawn into this. Proactivity will work alongside reactive operations and we will use the strength of the partnership, especially VICO Homes and LA to ensure we deliver on our commitments.

We have been working with the Wakefield District Off-Road Bike Team, targeting the anti-social use of motorbikes and eBikes in the area around Lupset Golf Course. A number of enquiries have led to the seizure of a number of bikes and officers are looking at community intelligence to try and identify some riders. 

College Grove remains to be the focal point for visible anti-social behaviour across the ward area. Work is ongoing in recognised hotspot areas through a genuine partnership approach including statutory and non-statutory partners. This will continue with a revised focus on introducing new diversionary tactics to address offenders’ criminal behaviours. Metrics of success will be measured through police and partnership demand data as well as through community surveys and information gathering alongside elected members and key individuals.

Partnership work at Marshway House continues to show positive results, with police demand at the site reducing significantly. Improved security measures, joint interventions, and resident vetting are contributing to this progress. Where offenders are identified, arrests are made and anti-social behaviour legislation is used to exclude them from the area.

Some activity has displaced into the Peterson Road flats, where concerns around drug use are being addressed through regular visits by the team and close work with the housing provider and residents, led by the ward manager.

The community has played a key role by sharing intelligence on vehicles linked to drug activity. This has enabled joint operations with West Yorkshire Police’s specialist Police Intercept Team, resulting in large seizures of Class A drugs, arrests, and the removal of vehicles from circulation. Further operations are planned.

The team is also tackling a local drugs line under Operation Mullside. Recent action has led to the arrest of both adults and juveniles involved, with a court-issued Gang Injunction – the first of its kind in Wakefield District. A successful operation involving specialist units recovered drugs and weapons, with suspects arrested and charged. Work continues to trace one outstanding individual.

Your neighbourhood policing team remain committed to tackling drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour, ensuring residents can see and feel the benefits of this sustained action.

Wakefield East (Eastmoor, College Grove, Pinders Heath, Portobello) Ward Areas

College Grove remains to be the focal point for visible anti-social behaviour across the ward area. Work is ongoing in recognised hotspot areas through a genuine partnership approach including statutory and non-statutory partners. This will continue with a revised focus on introducing new diversionary tactics to address offenders’ criminal behaviours. Metrics of success will be measured through police and partnership demand data as well as through community surveys and information gathering alongside elected members and key individuals.

Wakefield North (City Centre) Ward Area

To reduce City Centre Crime and anti-social behaviour through a strategic mix of covert and overt proactive policing activity. Working closely with partners, exploring all investigatory opportunities and maximising both offender control and victim safeguarding through the robust use of criminal and civil legislation. Partnership campaigns delivering shared agenda messaging, reducing demand to all agencies, and making the City Centre community safer and feel safer.

Wakefield West (Thornes, Lupset and Cathedral Retail Park) Ward Areas

The team are focussing efforts on the criminal element being found in the Luspet area. Recently obtained community intelligence pays mention to increased street dealing, especially around the Aysgarth’s, and there is suggestion that there are strong links to County Lines activity. Other areas of the cluster has seen issues between various crime groups and I am keen to ensure that the Wakefield West Ward is not drawn into this. Proactivity will work alongside reactive operations and we will use the strength of the partnership, especially VICO Homes and LA to ensure we deliver on our commitments.

Wakefield East (Eastmoor, College Grove, Pinders Heath, Portobello) Ward Areas

College Grove remains to be the focal point for visible anti-social behaviour across the ward area. Work is ongoing in recognised hotspot areas through a genuine partnership approach including statutory and non-statutory partners. This will continue with a revised focus on introducing new diversionary tactics to address offenders’ criminal behaviours. Metrics of success will be measured through police and partnership demand data as well as through community surveys and information gathering alongside elected members and key individuals.

Wakefield North (City Centre) Ward Area

To reduce City Centre Crime and anti-social behaviour through a strategic mix of covert and overt proactive policing activity. Working closely with partners, exploring all investigatory opportunities and maximising both offender control and victim safeguarding through the robust use of criminal and civil legislation. Partnership campaigns delivering shared agenda messaging, reducing demand to all agencies, and making the City Centre community safer and feel safer.

Wakefield West (Thornes, Lupset and Cathedral Retail Park) Ward Areas

The team are focussing efforts on the criminal element being found in the Luspet area. Recently obtained community intelligence pays mention to increased street dealing, especially around the Aysgarth’s, and there is suggestion that there are strong links to County Lines activity. Other areas of the cluster has seen issues between various crime groups and I am keen to ensure that the Wakefield West Ward is not drawn into this. Proactivity will work alongside reactive operations and we will use the strength of the partnership, especially VICO Homes and LA to ensure we deliver on our commitments.

Wakefield West (Thornes, Lupset and Cathedral Retail Park) Ward Areas

Thornes Park: 

As we enter the warmer months, we have started to see an immediate spike of offences and incidents across Thornes Park. We fully accept this is seasonal, but we feel it is important to ensure a quick grip now will pay dividends for the rest of the spring and summer. 

Therefore, NPT focus will be on the park and the peripheral and arterial routes. This activity includes targeted anti-social use of electric bikes and scooters and we will be working closely with colleagues from the District Off Road Bike Team and the Force Roads Policing Unit to ensure we maximise policing opportunity. 

This work will not detract from our continued focus of criminality across Lupset and we will be ensuring a collaborative approach with statutory and non-statutory partners, utilising actionable intelligence to be as effective as possible.

Update June 2026

NPT officers have stepped up patrols in recent weeks and colleagues from the Off-Road Bike Team are in the park regularly. We are following up on community intelligence about anti-social behaviour related to nuisance bikes and a number of warnings have been issued and electric bikes / scooters have been seized. 
Sgt Hardwick has recently started the JogOn Wakefield campaign which has seen officers working with running clubs in the district, including Thornes Park, to make running safer for everyone. 
 

Wakefield East (Eastmoor, College Grove, Pinders Heath, Portobello) Ward Areas

Speeding and anti-social vehicle use: 

Following on from several complaints made to ourselves and the MP we are having a focus on vehicle related crime and issues of speeding and the anti-social use of cars around the Eastmoor area. 

Several roads have been disclosed to us as of being a concern, but we are maintaining a more pragmatic view and not wishing to displace this type of criminality and we will be fluid across the estate. 

The team will also be introducing the skills of specialist officers to help us achieve our aims of a notable reduction. This work also meets the NPT and the Local Authority aims under the Vision Zero initiative – reducing road deaths in the district to zero.  

Wakefield North (City Centre, St Johns & Flanshaw) Ward Area

Anti-Social Behaviour - Flanshaw: 

Whilst the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) has seen improvements of ASB and criminality in the city centre, we now wish to ensure the surrounding communities remain safe and crime free. 

A recent spike in ASB has seen several small fires set near to the McDonalds and Morrisons sites close to Flanshaw. Aware that our ward does not begin to be adversely impacted by youth related ASB we will be working closely with the Local Authority ASB team to quickly identify potential offenders and introduce diversionary tactics to deter poor behaviour. This also means a focus on the anti-social use of electric bikes and scooters which are aware is starting to creep in.
 

Wakefield West (Thornes, Lupset and Cathedral Retail Park) Ward Areas

Thornes Park: 

As we enter the warmer months, we have started to see an immediate spike of offences and incidents across Thornes Park. We fully accept this is seasonal, but we feel it is important to ensure a quick grip now will pay dividends for the rest of the spring and summer. 

Therefore, NPT focus will be on the park and the peripheral and arterial routes. This activity includes targeted anti-social use of electric bikes and scooters and we will be working closely with colleagues from the District Off Road Bike Team and the Force Roads Policing Unit to ensure we maximise policing opportunity. 

This work will not detract from our continued focus of criminality across Lupset and we will be ensuring a collaborative approach with statutory and non-statutory partners, utilising actionable intelligence to be as effective as possible.

Update June 2026

NPT officers have stepped up patrols in recent weeks and colleagues from the Off-Road Bike Team are in the park regularly. We are following up on community intelligence about anti-social behaviour related to nuisance bikes and a number of warnings have been issued and electric bikes / scooters have been seized. 
Sgt Hardwick has recently started the JogOn Wakefield campaign which has seen officers working with running clubs in the district, including Thornes Park, to make running safer for everyone. 
 

Wakefield East (Eastmoor, College Grove, Pinders Heath, Portobello) Ward Areas

Speeding and anti-social vehicle use: 

Following on from several complaints made to ourselves and the MP we are having a focus on vehicle related crime and issues of speeding and the anti-social use of cars around the Eastmoor area. 

Several roads have been disclosed to us as of being a concern, but we are maintaining a more pragmatic view and not wishing to displace this type of criminality and we will be fluid across the estate. 

The team will also be introducing the skills of specialist officers to help us achieve our aims of a notable reduction. This work also meets the NPT and the Local Authority aims under the Vision Zero initiative – reducing road deaths in the district to zero.  

Wakefield North (City Centre, St Johns & Flanshaw) Ward Area

Anti-Social Behaviour - Flanshaw: 

Whilst the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) has seen improvements of ASB and criminality in the city centre, we now wish to ensure the surrounding communities remain safe and crime free. 

A recent spike in ASB has seen several small fires set near to the McDonalds and Morrisons sites close to Flanshaw. Aware that our ward does not begin to be adversely impacted by youth related ASB we will be working closely with the Local Authority ASB team to quickly identify potential offenders and introduce diversionary tactics to deter poor behaviour. This also means a focus on the anti-social use of electric bikes and scooters which are aware is starting to creep in.