POLICE have called closing time on daytime drink-related disorder after making arrests, seizing booze and removing people from a West Yorkshire town centre.  

Officers from the Huddersfield Town Centre Partnership Team and British Transport Police joined forces on Wednesday for a joint operation to clamp down on alcohol-related anti-social behaviour (ASB) and crime in Huddersfield Town Centre.

A Section 35 Direction to Leave order is now in place until Friday which means officers can order persons seen engaging in ASB out of a designated area.

Those who refuse to comply can be subject to arrest.

Town centre and BTP officers focussed the operation outside the train station and surrounding areas and during the day arrested a male for possession of Class A drugs and made another arrest for possession of an offensive weapon.

Three persons were ordered to leave the area and two canisters of alcohol were taken.

Police jointly made seven stop searches for drugs and received a number of intelligence reports from members of the public.

That intelligence will now be analysed to help plan future police activity.

Inspector Graham Dyson of the Huddersfield Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We are aware of residents' and retailers' concerns regarding street drinking and related ASB in the town centre and have been planning this operation with our colleagues.

“I hope yesterday’s action and the Section 35 order will make it very clear to those who think it is acceptable to behave in this fashion that people in in the town will not stand for it and neither will the police.

“The recent arrest and charging of a man for offences at the bus station and an attempted robbery in the town should also demonstrate how seriously we take these issues.”

He added: “Officers are monitoring ASB in Huddersfield and will not hesitate to enforce the Section 35 order while it is in place.

“None of those who were directed to leave during the operation have returned to the centre which would be a criminal offence and result in arrest.

“We are now developing the intelligence we received to plan future activity and I would ask anyone who has information about street drinking and associated crime to contact the Huddersfield NPT on 101 or online at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101livechat

“Information can also always be given anonymously to the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111 or online via their website.”

Councillor Carole Pattison, Cabinet Member for Learning, Aspiration and Communities, added: “When people visit Huddersfield Town Centre I want them to be safe and feel safe.

"Unfortunately, those who choose to drink alcohol in the street and commit anti-social behaviour are intimidating to our residents, visitors, and business owners.

"We know that during the summer months we often see a spike in this behaviour and that is why yesterday’s operation was so crucial.

"We have set out early that this behaviour is not acceptable and that action will be taken against those who continue to behave inappropriately.

“My thanks go to West Yorkshire Police, British Transport Police, and everyone involved in making our Town Centres safe for everyone all year round.”