Operation to tackle violent crime sees 1500th arrest
28th November 2019
Over 1,500 arrests have been made since April in an ongoing operation targeting serious violent crime.
Launched in April across West Yorkshire, #OperationJemlock aims to reduce serious violence and knife related crime.
Earlier this year the Force was given some additional funding and launched Operation Jemlock to provide dedicated resources deployed on a daily basis to tackle this type of crime.
Officers are working extra shifts patrolling in key areas where they are making a real difference.
Superintendent Damon Solley leads the Force's violence reduction initiative. He said: "So far on Operation Jemlock we have achieved some very positive results. Officers are working really hard to target people intent on violence and carrying weapons. This is a type of crime which we are determined to reduce as it can cause so much harm to victims and the community.
"As a result of this operation, in the eight months we have been carrying out our activity there has been a 12% drop in serious knife crime compared to the same period last year.
"This shows that the hard work of the officers carrying out these duties is having an impact in the communities we serve."
"The violence reduction operation will continue and our determination to disrupt and deter this kind of criminal behaviour is unwavering".
Since Operation Jemlock began there have been (as of Sunday 24 November 2019):
- 1526 arrests for various offences including possession of weapons, assault, drug possession and other violence related offences
- 1341 stop and searches
- 106 weapons seized
- 395 vehicles seized
- 2391 pieces of intelligence submitted
- 86 houses searched
Mark Burns-Williamson, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for West Yorkshire, said: "This focussed police work targeting those who disrupt our communities with violent behaviour is having a real effect and helping the public feel safer as they go about their daily lives. However, we know there is still much more to do in those areas where knife crime has happened leading to serious injuries and negative public perceptions.
"We are committed to ensuring that we are tackling serious violent crime to help reassure our communities.
"This law enforcement work is in addition to our newly created Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), a multiagency co-ordinated approach that focuses on the drivers of serious violence and centres heavily on early intervention and prevention particularly with young people. We need to provide positive alternative paths to help steer individuals away from a life of violence and serious crime and all the damaging consequences that can have individually and in communities."