Wakefield Council to set up mobile cameras at dogging hotspot
Wakefield Council is to set up mobile cameras on a rural lane following years of residents' raising concerns about dogging and related anti-social behaviour.
Last month Coun Rebecca Webster (Reform/Wakefield Rural) said CCTV warning signs had been installed on Top Lane ahead of planned installation of cameras.
Coun Webster posted on Facebook: "For a number of years, residents have raised concerns about dogging and associated antisocial behaviour on Top Lane, near West Bretton.
"We are pleased to see that CCTV warning signs have now been installed, and we welcome the planned installation of CCTV cameras along Top Lane in the coming weeks.
"This is a positive step forward for local residents who have been raising these concerns for far too long."
A council spokesperson said: "Mobile cameras are being deployed in this location, as well as patrols by enforcement officers, as we continue to tackle problems in the area alongside West Yorkshire Police."
Coun Webster, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Stronger Safer Communities, said today (Nov 3): "We are listening to residents’ concerns and currently looking into all options, alongside West Yorkshire Police, to tackle issues in this area.
"In the meantime, mobile cameras are being used in this location, as well as patrols by enforcement officers. We won’t tolerate anti-social behaviour in our communities.
Dogging and men meeting for sex in woods next to Top Lane is an ongoing problem, a West Bretton Police and Communities Together meeting heard in September.
The meeting on September 22 heard horse riders have previously raised concerns about men exposing themselves in the woods next to Top Lane,
A member of the public told the meeting that female horse riders had raised concerns at a previous PACT meeting, adding: "They complained about people jumping out and exposing themselves in the woods. They were saying it's very common."
PCSO George Sykes told the meeting: "In past meetings we have had a lot of questions and issues around Top Lane with dogging and that sort of thing with men meeting (for sexual activity)."
He told the meeting that Top Lane - which runs between Denby Dale Road and Bar Lane – has been a problem area for a number of years.
PCSO Sykes said: "There was issues with males meeting each other for sexual gratification and it would cause a lot of problems.
"Round there you have got a lot of dog walkers, horse riders and obviously it's not something they would really like to see.
"There have been multiple reports to ourselves. We have tried and tried with a police presence but there is only so much we can do being there for half-an-hour at a time."