Calderdale gets tough on travelling criminals

Jan 19 2010 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TRAVELLING criminals are being targeted by police determined to crackdown on crime in Calderdale.

Patrols on the borough’s borders are being stepped up to stop criminals moving around as easily.

It comes after a series of bank raids in Brighouse last year, with thieves taking advantage of easy access to the M62 just a mile away.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “The district has traditionally suffered from criminals coming in from other areas, committing a crime then heading home.

“But for the foreseeable future officers will be putting on a show of force, patrolling the borders and the roads that link them to deter criminals from even considering Calderdale as a target.”

They say officers from the Roads Policing department will join other officers in the operation to ensure criminals have nowhere to hide.

The force helicopter will also be on standby and checkpoints will be setup to check for any illegal activity.

Officers will be patrolling undisclosed locations across the division at varying times.

Chief Inspector Martin Lister is spearheading the initiative, and said: “We want to prove to criminals that they are not welcome in Calderdale.

“Anyone who thinks they can travel into the area, commit a crime and then simply move on better think again.

“We do not and will not tolerate this sort of activity and will be doing everything in our power to bring them to justice.”