Police Inspector urges residents to get involved in vast community project that aims to improve Agbrigg

Operation H.A.B.B (Help Agbrigg Be Better) is an ongoing initiative which was given its name by local school children.

The project was launched last year, in 2023, following information about suspected Organised Crime Gang (OCG) activity in the Agbrigg area.

The new initative aims to improve Agbrigg as a whole – this includes fighting and aiming to decrease organised crime, cleaning the streets and creating a larger sense of community.

Since last September, officers from the Wakefield West Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) have worked with partners and specialist resources from the Force to carry out a series of warrants and targeted initiatives in support of the operation.

Recent police activity includes a warrant being executed at an address on Clarion Street where Class A drugs and cash were found which led to the arrest of three people and the arrest of three people, by NPT officers, following a series of burglaries at the new Wakefield Trinity stadium.

Following the launch of the project, statistics from West Yorshire Police show that recorded violent crime in the Agbrigg area is down by 12 per cent with 88 offences recorded from October 1, 2023 to March 31 this year, compared to 100 offences recorded from April 1 to September 30, in 2023.

Currently, organisations involved in Operation H.A.B.B include West Yorkshire Police, Wakefield Council, and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service with plans in place to include further partners in the scheme.

Officers are also encouraging the local community to get involved with the project, with the aim for it to become ultimately a community-led initiative.

Inspector Andrew Dickinson, who leads the Wakefield West Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Operation H.A.B.B is about cleaning the area up, both metaphorically and literally – we are actually looking to have some community litter picking days in the future.

“We want everyone to play their part to Help Agbrigg Be Better and would love to see those living and working in the area getting involved in upcoming events and opportunities.

“We also need the community to support us by reporting anything that makes them feel unsafe or concerned in the area. That could be providing information to the police about serious and organised crime but could also be passing on information to the council about streets or community spaces that have issues with littering or flytipping.”

Coun Maureen Cummings, Cabinet Member for Communities, Poverty and Health at Wakefield Council, said: “Everyone deserves to feel safe where they live.

“We are proud to be involved in this partnership to support our residents and businesses and encourage them to get involved in opportunities and events that bring the community together.”

To find out more about ongoing work and events that the Wakefield West NPT are involved in as part of Operation H.A.B.B and how to get involved, visit: https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/my-neighbourhood/wakefield/wakefield-west

Information about the different ways to report crime, are also available through the West Yorkshire Police website.