news-engine

Police make 70 arrests during month-long town centre crime crackdown in Dewsbury and Huddersfield Store thieves have been caught out by undercover cops in Kirklees in a summer arrest blitz in town centres. A total of 70 arrests were made in four weeks in Dewsbury and Huddersfield town centres in July as part of an ongoing drive by officers to cut retail crime. Police have been carrying out dedicated patrols in plain clothes on shopping streets and in shops to spot and catch out shoplifters. Officers have also been carrying out extra high visibility patrols to deter offenders. The team confiscated alcohol from 37 people caught drinking in areas protected by Public Space Protection Orders in both towns and seized three cars which were seen being driven illegally. Meanwhile, repeat offenders have been issued with civil orders including Community Protection Notices and Criminal Behaviour Orders, making them subject to monitoring and swifter prosecution if they repeat their criminal acts. Activity this spring and summer has carried on from a winter of action that began in late 2025 and continued in the early months of 2026, in which officers from the town centre proactive teams stepped up late afternoon and evening patrols and operations to deter offending in key hubs in both towns. Proactive patrols of bus stations will also continue in both Dewsbury and Huddersfield. Sergeant George Rawlinson, of Kirklees Police, said: “Making Huddersfield and Dewsbury town centres safer is exactly what our proactive town centre teams were created to do, and hunting down criminals operating in them is the cornerstone of our work. “We continue to work very closely with our retail partners in both towns as well as Huddersfield BID to target our patrols and enforcement action. “I can also assure retailers and people who live, shop and work in both town centres that they will see much more activity from us in the coming days and weeks.” He added: “If you have information about criminal or anti-social activity in either town, then please get in touch to assist us in putting resources where they need to be. “Information can always be reported on 101, online at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat or anonymously to the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555111.”