Anti-social behaviour and crime levels reduced in Wakefield
We are hearing anti-social behaviour levels and crime is down after a 'winter of action'.
Authorities have been working together and say they have seen a 10 percent reduction in shop lifting since starting the program.
Cllr Daniel Wilton, Cabinet Member for Communities and Chair of the Wakefield Community Safety Partnership, said:
“We’re determined to ensure our city and town centres are places where people want to visit, live, work and do business. We won’t tolerate behaviour that negatively impacts our communities.
“That’s why we’re working hard with the police and other local partners to tackle anti-social behaviour and bring crime levels down.”
Inspector Paul Fraser, of the Wakefield Central NPT, said:
“Driving down crime in Wakefield city centre and ensuring that shoppers, retail staff and residents feel safe in their community has been a clear operational priority for the Wakefield Central Neighbourhood Policing Team throughout our Winter of Action activity.
“Retail crime has reduced significantly, and the revised City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) is already having a very positive impact. It has strengthened our ability to intervene early, disrupt anti-social behaviour and address conduct that undermines public confidence, even where it does not meet the threshold for criminal prosecution.
“Our neighbourhood officers are proactively enforcing these powers to protect businesses and the wider community.
“We are also continuing our ‘tackle, not tolerate’ approach — combining high-visibility patrols with targeted covert activity to deter offending, identify repeat perpetrators and locate and arrest wanted individuals.
“While we are encouraged by the reductions in crime and anti-social behaviour achieved so far, we recognise there is further work ahead in 2026. We will continue working closely with partners at Wakefield Council and across West Yorkshire to build on this momentum and deliver a safer, stronger city centre for everyone.”