About blooming time

Press Release received today from West Yorkshire Police

Monday March 10, 2008

FLYING START FOR POLICE TEAM

A new high profile proactive police team has seized more than
£200,000 in cash and stolen goods during its first week working in
the Wakefield district.

The new Divisional Patrol Unit for the Wakefield District has got
off to a flying start. Since its launch last week, the team has
recovered more than £120,000 in cash after smashing a money
laundering operation, and numerous stolen goods including 70 Easter
eggs from a suspects house in the Wakefield area.

Officers from the unit have also arrested 12 priority criminals
involved in activities such as vehicle crime and house burglaries.

The unit was formed to support the new Neighbourhood Policing Teams
across the Wakefield District and is made up of three sergeant-led
teams which work round the clock, 365 days a year.

They will be supported by a Proactive Roads Policing Unit
incorporating officers to tackle nuisance motorcycles as well as the
Neighbourhood Drug Team and three teams of detectives.

Officers for the unit have been hand picked from across Wakefield
District and have been selected as having the necessary skills to
support Neighbourhood Policing Teams in further reducing crime and
disorder in local communities.

Wakefield District Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Marc
Callaghan, said the new Divisional Patrol Unit was an excellent
resource.

He said: We are very pleased to have this new specialist team
operating in the division and they have clearly produced some strong
results in just a few days.


The NPT restructure has provided us with the ability to put
together a team like this which we have not had in the Wakefield
area before.

This extra capability to focus specialist resources where they are
needed most will give us the capability to crack down on crime and
carry out crime prevention as well through high visibility policing.

This is another indication of our intention to ensure that we
target those people who blight the lives of local residents with
their criminal and anti-social behaviour. We have put the resources
in place but we need the help of the public to provide information
about those responsible.

Detective Chief Inspector Dean Henson added: Officers on the team
have been selected for their specialist skills and experience. They
will support the district in reducing crime, supporting crime
investigations and making our neighbourhoods even safer than they
already are."

We believe this team will give us real extra capability in
Wakefield Division and we are pleased with the results we have seen
so far including arrests for money laundering, burglary and more.


Ends