THERE is a lot of emotion around the table in a meeting room at Bradford Police headquarters.

Three police officers and a councillor are talking about the huge efforts that have, and continue to be made, to rid a Bradford estate of crime and anti-social behaviour, to improve life for residents.

In September last year, Holme Wood was labelled a no-go area by minicab drivers because of attacks on cars and robberies by yobs.

“It’s anti-social and aggressive kids with nothing better to do. They’re hooligans. It’s like the return of Mad Max,” one driver said at the time.

The incidents are being addressed through multi-agency work, which has achieved much over the past few years and, say those at the forefront, is in danger of being overlooked.

From June to December the estate saw a ten per cent reduction in anti-social behaviour, compared with the previous year, although incidents of damage showed an increase over the same period. In the weeks leading up to and including bonfire night anti-social behaviour was down by 24 per cent.

Says Insp Kevin Pickles, of Bradford South policing district: “We have strong links with local councillors, other colleagues and partnership agencies, and have been working hard to stem issues surrounding anti-social behaviour and crime involving young people, in particular damage to buses, taxis and cars.”

Partnership agencies include Bradford Youth Offending Team, the Youth Service, social housing provides Incommunities and Affinity Sutton, Families First, social services and schools.

Much energy is being put into the creation of diversionary activities to keep young people occupied in activities they enjoy.

Funded by Comic Relief, Affinity Sutton Youth Sports project, works with young people in disadvantaged areas offering sporting opportunities and other activities in the BD4 area, which includes Holme Wood. Among these are free year-round football sessions, rugby and dancing. Bradford City Football Club and the Bradford Bulls have been involved.

Affinity Sutton also run a social action group every Wednesday evening which includes young people. On November they organised a Youth Sports fun day.

“We have referred young people onto the project,” says former ward officer for Tong PC Dave Purcell. “It offers young people something meaningful that they can get involved with.”

PC Purcell has cultivated a strong relationship with Incommunities, who act to curtail reports of anti-social behaviour by individuals living at their properties.

“They do a great deal of work around tenancy enforcement. When a landlord tells a family to get their kids’ behaviour in check, it tends to work.”

Police officers and PCSOs continue to be have a physical “old-fashioned bobbying” presence on Holme Wood, patrolling on foot, strengthening links between themselves and the community.

Dispersal Order powers have been used on many occasions, in situations to remove anti-social individuals and provide immediate respite to the community. “It is about showing them that we are not going to put up with such behaviour,” says Insp Pickles. “We disperse the group and return the individuals to their homes. Some parents are unaware that their children were out at all, and are genuinely mortified.”

The estate attracts its fair share of negative stereotyping, says Sergeant Pete Softley, of Bradford South, a former youth worker on the estate who set up Holme Wood Athletic football club, the forerunners to Dudley Hill Rangers, and for the past 25 years has devoted his free time to youth football.

“My frustration is that a lot of good work goes on yet is not celebrated. I am a Bierley lad, I went to Tong School and I care about the area. You are always going to get some kids who are diverted. Some, of primary school age, are on the periphery of that group, and need positive role models. We are visiting schools and meeting pupils, head teachers and business managers. We can all raise issues and share information. If young people know you they are going to respect you.”

He is currently trying to recruit sixth formers to act as mentors to younger pupils.

“There was a time when people living here did not get a voice, but they do now,” he says. “Yes, we have anti-social behaviour and have used policing powers to deal with that, but the majority of people are good people that you never hear from.”

Criminal Behaviour Orders can be issued against persistently anti-social individuals who are also engaged in criminal activity, and individuals can be excluded from certain areas.

Councillor Alan Wainwright, of Tong ward, and a member of the multi-agency Holme Wood and Tong Strategic Partnership, says “We are all working very hard. There is a lot going on, and a lot of things available of which people are unaware.”

Alan spends a great deal of time at TFD Youth Centre in Broadstone Way which runs activities for youngsters.

A former Incommunities board member, he stresses the efforts being taken - including evictions - to curb problem behaviour by tenants.

Adds sergeant Softley: “There is no quick fix, it takes time to properly address problems.”

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