'Tackle, not tolerate’: Anti-social behaviour and crime levels down after ‘Winter of Action’
A joint initiative to reduce crime and enhance safety over the winter months has already seen results, Wakefield Council has said.
The local authority along with West Yorkshire Police and other partners, have delivered visible, practical action across the Government’s ‘Winter of Action’ during the winter months.
Wakefield has seen a 10 per cent drop in shoplifting, compared to the same period last year, and overall theft is down 36 per cent and there have been eight Criminal Behaviour Orders issued between November 1, 2025 and January 31, 2026.
Coun Daniel Wilton, Cabinet Member for Communities and Chair of the Wakefield Community Safety Partnership, said: “We’re determined to ensure our city and town centres are places where people want to visit, live, work and do business.
"We won’t tolerate behaviour that negatively impacts our communities.”
The extension of the city centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), introduced in mid-December to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in the city, is already having a positive impact and increasing public confidence.
Through the Winter of Action, police resources were deployed across the district 75 times, 35 arrests took place and 26 tickets issued for breach of the PSPO.
Insp Paul Fraser, of the Wakefield Central NPT, said: “Driving down crime in Wakefield city centre and ensuring that shoppers, retail staff and residents feel safe in their community has been a clear operational priority for the Wakefield Central NPT.
“Retail crime has reduced significantly, and the revised City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) is already having a very positive impact.
"It has strengthened our ability to intervene early, disrupt anti-social behaviour and address conduct that undermines public confidence, even where it does not meet the threshold for criminal prosecution.
“Our neighbourhood officers are proactively enforcing these powers to protect businesses and the wider community.
“We are also continuing our ‘tackle, not tolerate’ approach — combining high-visibility patrols with targeted covert activity to deter offending, identify repeat perpetrators and locate and arrest wanted individuals.
"We will continue working closely with partners at Wakefield Council and across West Yorkshire to build on this momentum and deliver a safer, stronger city centre for everyone.”
Reductions in retail crime were also recorded in Castleford and Pontefract town centres during the Winter of Action operation.