West Yorkshire Police make sixty arrests in domestic abuse crackdown
Suspects were picked up in Kirklees, York and Scarborough during a week-long operation
Dozens of on the run offenders have been located in Kirklees in a major week of action to target domestic abusers.
Kirklees Safeguarding officers are continuing to investigate this week after officers from across Kirklees Police made 60 arrests in a significant drive to clamp down on domestic offending.
Officers including the dedicated Catch and Control Team, Safeguarding and CID detectives and neighbourhood policing officers carried out the seven day starting during the last week of July.
Arrests were made across the whole of Kirklees District, in wider West Yorkshire, and as far away as York and Scarborough to hunt down persons wanted by officers.
Suspects, who included men and women, were arrested for a range of offences including serious sexual offences and assaults.
Police deployed special domestic abuse response cars during the week of action in order to maximise the chances of arrests.
Measures to protect victims of domestic offending, and vulnerable victims generally, have increased significantly in Kirklees over the past five years through ongoing dedicated work with partners.
This has included work with 3rd party partners to provide more means in which victims can discreetly make reports, and the establishment of more than 280 Safe Zones in locations across the whole of Kirklees District
Safe Zones are areas where a woman, or child could step off the street if they feel they at risk and wish to call the police, friend or relative. Existing locations include retailers, bars, cafes, sports centres, public buildings and bus stations.
Detective Inspector Richard Grace of the Kirklees District Safeguarding Unit, said:
“We operate a zero-tolerance policy to any form of domestic abuse in Kirklees and remain determined to hunt down and arrest those suspected of this appalling offending.
“Our recent week of action saw officers from across Kirklees join forces specifically to target those wanted for domestic related offences, including persons who knew they were wanted and were actively avoiding us.
“It has resulted in sixty arrests in just seven days, with those arrests including persons wanted for some of the most serious offending, including sexual assault.
"Follow up enquiries remain ongoing this week. A number of those arrested have been charged with various offences, whilst others have been released on bail, issued with Domestic Violence Protection Orders, or dealt with through out-of-court disposals containing conditions to protect victims and address offending behaviour as investigations progress."
He added:
“Domestic abuse can have a dreadful effect on victims and we are fully aware of how difficult it can be to take that first step and come forwards to speak with us.
“All reports are investigated by specialist officers and prosecutions of this offending from across West Yorkshire are regularly being brought to court.
“Last month in Kirklees for example, a man was jailed for six years for coercive control offences and false imprisonment which were reported by a victim who showed real bravery in coming forwards.
“We can reassure all victims of domestic offending that we will always listen, support them, fully investigate and put them in touch with any support services they may need.”