By Nathan Findlay –
This week there has been a range of incidents across West Yorkshire including serious assault, murder, and police preparing to provide specially trained police support at a major Leeds athletics event.
Tuesday, 1 June 2021 | Appeal for Witnesses to Serious Assault in Leeds
Detectives are appealing for witnesses following an assault in which occurred in Leeds.
The incident took place at around 8:50 pm on Saturday 29 May on Dewsbury Road, close to the junction of Temple Road, Beeston.
Officers attended and found a male who was seriously injured.
The 24-year-old was taken to hospital and his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Enquiries are ongoing and officers are appealing to members of the public to assist.
Anyone who may have been present at the time of the incident or may have dashcam footage to assist with enquiries is asked to contact 101 and quoting reference 13210267759.
Tuesday 1 June 2021 | Update, Serious Incident In River Calder, Brighouse
Enquiries remain ongoing this evening (01/06/21) after police and partner agencies were called to reports of a boy in distress in the water in Brighouse.
Police and partner agencies were called to at 2:38 pm on Tuesday (June 1) to reports a child who had been playing with friends had difficulties in water at the River Calder.
Specialist fire service colleagues and police conducted an urgent search. Tragically, the body of a 13-year-old boy was recovered.
Chief Superintendent Sarah Baker, District Commander of Calderdale Police, said: “We are continuing our enquiries with partners. Whilst investigations into what took place are at an early stage, indications are that this is a tragic incident in which a teenage boy has lost his life.
“Specially trained officers are working to support the victim’s family at this devastating time, and our thoughts are with them.
“I would ask anyone who saw what happened and who may have not yet spoken with authorities to contact Calderdale CID on 101 referencing police log 989 of 1 June.”
Wednesday 2 June 2021 | Six Males Found Guilty Of Murder of Bradley Gledhill, Batley
Six males have today been found guilty of the murder of a man in Batley in June 2020.
The Homicide and Major Enquiry Team has welcomed the verdicts following a trial at Leeds Crown Court for the murder of 20-year-old Bradley Gledhill, the attempted murder of one male, and a serious assault on another in an incident on Park Croft, Batley, in June 2020.
Usman Karolia (19) of Lime Tree Avenue, Batley, Ahmed Karolia (24) of Lime Tree Avenue, Batley, Nabeel Naseer (18) of Gordale Close, Dewsbury, Raja Nawaz (19) of Longfield Road, Heckmondwike and two 17-year old males were all found guilty or Bradley’s murder.
Additionally, Usman Kariola, Ahmed Kariola, Nabeel Naseer and a 17-year-old were also found guilty of attempted murder of one other victim. Usman Kariola was further found guilty of the Section 18 wounding of the 3rd male.
Bradley was fatally injured in an affray incident in the street during the evening of Sunday, 21 June.
The court heard that the 20-year-old and his two friends and come across their attackers by chance with no evidence existing to suggest a meeting had been planned or of there being any prior contact between the two groups.
They were then attacked by the six, with all three victims receiving significant knife injuries.
Police and paramedics attended, but despite treatment, including first aid from residents, Bradley did not survive his injuries.
The six defendants will all be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court at 10 am on Friday, 30 July.
Senior Investigating Officer DCI Vanessa Rolfe of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, who led the investigation, said: “We welcome these guilty verdicts which come at the end of a lengthy trial and now await sentencing of these males in July.
“Our thoughts are with Bradley’s family and friends and with the other victims of these six, now we have reached the end of what will have been a draining and very emotional few weeks for them. I hope they have taken some initial comfort from the verdicts of the jury today.”
Friday 4 June 2021, | Specially Trained Police Support Major Leeds Athletics Event
Specially trained police are to support neighbourhood officers at a major athletics event in Leeds this weekend.
Officers trained in Project Servator tactics will be in the area in the run-up to the AJ Bell World Triathlon Championship Series, Leeds. They will also conduct high visibility and plain-clothed deployments at the event itself, which is ticketed and will run on the 5th and 6th June 2021.
The deployment of Project Servator will complement the force’s usual community-focused policing presence at the event, including patrols by local neighbourhood policing team officers who will engage with residents.
There is no specific threat to the event itself. The Project Servator is being used to help ensure everyone involved is safe and secure and to make life difficult for criminals who may seek to use the Triathlon as an opportunity to offend.
West Yorkshire Police have used the policing tactic since 2018, and officers are routinely deployed across the area, including at events.
Project Servator is the name given to highly visible police deployments designed to disrupt a range of criminal activity, including terrorism. They can happen anywhere at any time.
The tactics are designed to identify and disrupt hostile reconnaissance – the information gathering a criminal does when planning to commit a criminal act, including terrorist attacks.
The approach relies on police working with the community – businesses, partners, and members of the public – to build a network of vigilance and encourage suspicious activity to be reported.
“Highly Experienced”
Assistant Chief Constable Tyron Joyce of West Yorkshire Police said: “West Yorkshire Police is highly experienced at supporting the AJ Bell World Triathlon Championship Series and other large events.
“As normal activity starts to return to West Yorkshire, we are delighted to again attend these events to reassure residents and engage with those present to provide an appropriate community-focused policing presence.
“The deployment of Project Servator will support our NPT presence and provide extra reassurance to residents as well as provide an extra layer of disruption to any potential criminal activity.”
He added: “Project Servator officers will deploy across the site and nearby as preparations for the event get underway and during the event itself.
“They can turn up at any time and anywhere, so please don’t be surprised if you see them. Officers will be supported by live monitored CCTV, armed police colleagues, stewards and security at the event.
“We would ask those who attend to come up, feel free to have a chat and report any suspicious activity to one of the Project Servator team or stewards.
“We do encourage residents to act as extra eyes and ears to potential criminal behaviour so if you see something that doesn’t look or feel right, tell us and we will do the rest.”