By Nathan Findlay –
Across West Yorkshire this week, there has been a successful social media campaign, charges, a robbery and a fatal collision.
Wednesday, 19th May 2021 | Successful Yorkshire and Humber-wide Social Media Campaign Held to Warn About County Lines Crime
A Yorkshire and Humber-wide campaign to help educate young people about the many dangers of county lines crime has being a success.
The Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) has funded an advertising campaign on different social media platforms.
The unit ran a campaign in partnership with ‘Fearless.org’, the youth service of the independent charity Crime stoppers, on media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat. The campaign featured a series of ‘short and impactive clips.’
These clips told the story of Callum and Aimee and showed the viewer signs that they had been groomed into a life of a criminal (and in Aimee’s case, sexual) violence.
Viewers were also given an option to follow a link where they would be shown more information and advice.
This campaign ran from the 7th April to the 5th May, showing the campaign was quite successful across these different social media platforms.
Signs to look out for that a young person could be involved in CCE:
- A sudden change in attitude, they become secretive or disrespectful.
- They start making lots of repeat journeys without any real explanation.
- Evidence of traveling to places they wouldn’t normally go for example used bus or train tickets.
- They go missing and are found in areas away from home.
- They have more money and can afford expensive items such as phones/ designer clothes.
- Their appearance may change. They could be wearing new designer clothes, or the opposite appear dirty and disheveled.
- Another sign is they could appear to have lots of new friends who are possibly older.
- Fianlly, they become distant and there could be signs of harm of depression, and they start missing school.
Detective Inspector Mark Catney leads on County Lines Crime for the ROCU, he commented, “County Lines Crime is essentially ‘hardened’ and experienced criminals criminally and often exploiting and grooming young people to do their dirty work.”
Wednesday, 19th of May 2021 | Appeal: Robbery at Bank, Church Street, Leeds
Police are appealing for information following an armed robbery at a bank in Leeds.
Leeds District CID would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the robbery or has information about the incident which took place at the Halifax bank at the Penny Hill Centre, Church Road, Leeds at around 12:00pm, 19th May 2021.
This event took place when four masked men armed with weapons including machetes, entered the bank and threatened staff.
They then fled with the cash and left the scene in a silver Fiat Punto.
The car was later found abandoned on Gardeners Court.
Saturday, 22nd of May 2021 | Man Charged and due to appear in Court after Leeds Incident
A man is due to appear in court charged over an incident in Leeds where a gun was fired at a house.
Damien Cooper, aged 29, of Willowdale, Middleton, has been charged with conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life in relation to an incident at a house in Woodview Mount, Beeston, on Saturday, 1st May, where damage was caused to the front door by a firearm discharge.
The male has also been charged with criminal damage to a motor vehicle, affray, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence in relation to an incident at an address in High Street, Osset, on May 16th.
He was due to appear at Leeds Magistrates Court on 21st May 2021.
Detective Chief Inspector Fiona Gaffney of West Yorkshire Police Firearms Investigation and Prevent Team, said: “All firearms offences are taken very seriously and thoroughly investigated by West Yorkshire Police.
“If you suspect illegal activity in your area call police on 101. Always call 999 if an emergency or a crime is in progress.”
Monday, 24th of May 2021 | Appeal for Witness Following Fatal Collision on Common Lane, Wakefield
Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision that happened in the Walton Area of Wakefield.
Officers were called to the scene at around 6:00pm on Sunday the 23rd May to reports of a single vehicle collision on Common Lane. The white Volkswagen Golf had left the road and landed up on its roof.
Emergency services attended to the scene where a 27-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following this incident, a 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and is currently in custody.
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