Officers in West Yorkshire have made more than 8,000 arrests since launching a special operation to reduce violent crime.

West Yorkshire Police’s Operation Jemlock marked the start of the new year by crossing the 8,000 barrier after arresting wanted violent offenders and suspects for robbery in the first week of 2023.

The arrests have led to reduced numbers of knife crime and serious violence. 

The team also recovered bladed weapons including machetes, knives, and firearms - taking the total weapons recovered to over 1,600. 

Jemlock began in 2019 and involves officers patrolling high priority areas to provide a reassuring, highly visible presence within those communities and enforcement when required.

Police said the operation has seen areas patrolled by Jemlock see significant reductions in knife crime and serious violence offences. 

The operation works in collaboration with the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) which was formed in 2020 to tackle the underlying causes of violent offending.

It also helps fund vital local projects that undertake positive preventative work with children and young people.

Chief Inspector James Kitchen, force lead for Operation Jemlock, said: “Passing the 8,000 arrests threshold is a real milestone for the team, and shows how much impact they have had in the  years since their formation.

“Officers deployed on Jemlock deal with some of the most violent individuals within our communities putting themselves at significant risk to protect the public, and they continue to do this day and day. 

“Jemlock was created to reduce violent crime and data tells us that crime in an area selected for a Jemlock patrol reduces by up to 11 per cent when our officers are deployed there. That’s 100’s less victims of violent crime each year.   

“It is a small minority who choose violence and it is Jemlock’s continuing commitment to demonstrate that violent crime will never be tolerated.”

Director of the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), Chief Superintendent Jackie Marsh said: “Our preventive approach of early intervention is having a significant impact on young people’s lives.

"Through the many funded projects and programmes, we are reaching them at the ‘teachable moments’ and helping to divert them from the harms of violent crime.

“This partnership work coupled with the enforcement action of Operation Jemlock, is ensuring that we are together keeping our communities safe, resulting in fewer victims.”

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