National policing initiative 'Project Servator' praised after first year

Tuesday, 29 October 2019 10:49

Thousands of residents and hundreds of businesses are helping to disrupt criminal activity in West Yorkshire after engaging with a cutting-edge policing project.

The national Project Servator initiative has been operating in West Yorkshire for a year and has been praised by businesses, transport providers and residents for its impact in helping make street and retail areas safer.

Over the last 12 months officers specially trained in high visibility Project Servator policing tactics patrolled at key sites including retail areas in Leeds and engaged with 11,000 residents to encourage them to be extra eyes and ears and report anything that doesn’t feel right.

The team has built positive relationships with hundreds of businesses and retail areas including the Merrion Centre and Victoria Leeds, all helping establish a ‘network of vigilance’ operating in key sites.

While carrying out Project Servator related deployments, officers made in excess of 40 arrests for a wide range of offences including burglary and drug dealing.

Regarding the project, West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson, said: “It’s fantastic to see that Project Servator has been so well received locally by businesses, partners and the wider public.

"I fully support this initiative with its emphasis on high visibility patrols which is clearly disrupting criminal activity and helping to keep our communities safe.”

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