Knife arch kick-starts week

4:50pm Saturday 11th October 2008

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Bradford’s newest knife crime deterrent is helping to kick-start a week of action in the city aimed at highlighting efforts to tackle crime and keep communities safe.

A knife arch is being set up at Bradford Interchange on Monday as part of national Not in my Neighbourhood Week.

The arch, which has already been used at Wibsey Fair, is similar to an airport metal detector.

Inspector Kevin Pickles, of the City ward Neighbourhood Policing Team, said violent crime was down by seven per cent in Bradford South and there had been a 24 per cent fall in possession of offensive weapons.

He said: “The arch is there to deter those few people who may consider carrying a weapon, and provide reassurance to law-abiding members of the public.”

A number of action days to clamp down on crime and grime are planned across the district. Resi-dents will be joining police, firefighters, Council and housing trust officers and community volunteers.

Police will target criminals on outstanding warrants and clamp down on drug dealers, and Council officers will clean streets and gullies and remove graffiti. Residents will be given free crime prevention advice, fire safety checks and smoke alarms.

Police will be looking to crack down on anti-social behaviour in Jer Lane and Ascot Drive, Wibsey, and Wyke. Officers will be joining councillors to meet residents on the streets.

Chief Inspector Paul Hepworth, in charge of Bradford South NPTs, said the same sort of action was being taken “day in, day out, and week in, week out”. He said: “NPTs are starting to take effect in the district.

“Crimes are coming down and customer satisfaction is going up. We are listening to what people say, reading about their concerns in the T&A and identifying the issues and tackling them.

“We are trying to reduce the gap between the fear of crime and actual crime. I would like people’s perception to be where the reality is.”