By KLTV Newsdesk –

Unity: Shape Up initiative credited with a major drop in ASB as residents and police work together

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Ashbrow, Huddersfield, has fallen by more than half during a summer of community activity, according to Kirklees Police.

The drop follows a packed programme of engagement as part of the Unity: Shape Up – Clear, Hold, Build initiative.

During the school summer holidays, ASB reports fell by 53% compared with the same period last year, as officers supported events aimed at keeping young people active and engaged.

Summer Activities Keep Young People Busy

The initiative featured regular youth club evenings at Northfield Hall and multiple pop-up sports sessions across Ashbrow, including football and basketball, where officers joined in with local youngsters.

A family fun day organised by the social care charity Change Grow Live saw children try on mini police uniforms, and 15 bikes were security marked with the Bike Register national database.

Team Kickstart also hosted an annual rounders match, bringing together young people with police officers and PCSOs from both CHB and NPT teams.

Clear, Hold, Build: Tackling Crime and Rebuilding Communities

The Unity: Shape Up initiative, launched in November 2024, is a partnership between Kirklees District Police and Kirklees Council.

It uses the Home Office’s Clear, Hold, Build framework to reclaim neighbourhoods affected by organised crime, making areas safer and improving public confidence in policing.

In the first six months, the crime severity score in Ashbrow fell by 46%.

During the ‘Clear’ enforcement phase from September 2024, officers made 77 arrests, executed 13 warrants, and seized an estimated £165,000 of Class A and B drugs.

Police Praise Community Involvement

Chief Inspector Rebecca Calpin said: “Unity Shape Up has made a significant impact in Ashbrow since its launch in 2024, and this is being reflected in both the feedback we are receiving from residents and in our crime figures.

“While a great deal of traditional ‘enforcement’ policing has been carried out to cut crime levels, community engagement can be just as important in preventing offending from occurring, as our latest ASB crime data shows.

“Partners in Community Shape Up have been really active across the summer holidays to engage young people and their families, and we have been pleased to support them.

“Our ‘Hold’ and ‘Build’ phases of the process remain ongoing with our partners, aimed at delivering long-term change in the community there.”