Keighley’s MP Robbie Moore has called on West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Labour’s Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, to get “laser-focused” on antisocialbehaviour in Keighley.
Speaking during Home Office Questions in the House of Commons Chamber, Mr Moore raised continuing reports of antisocial behaviour at Keighley Bus station and other town centre hotspots calling on West Yorkshire’s Mayor, Tracy Brabin - who is responsible for setting Keighley’s local police and crime action plan - “to get laser-focused” on the issue of antisocial behaviour in Keighley and tackle what he called a “plight” on the town.
The comment comes after leaders at West Yorkshire Combined Authority backed out of £1.1 million move of its policing and crime team to Wakefield last week. The move was designed to enable WYCA staff to “work in a more hybrid and transformed manner.”
Mr Moore called out the move as an “waste of time and resources” within WYCA “at a time when local residents want to see action on issues like ASB”.
In March, Keighley and West Yorkshire were selected for the UK government's tough new 'Immediate Justice' scheme.
The new scheme is aimed at addressing and rectifying acts of antisocial behaviour and would see offenders cleaning up their crimes in jumpsuits within 48 hours of the offence, as well as increasing fines for those engaging in graffiti, littering, or fly-tipping, with penalties of up to £500 and £1,000.
Robbie Moore MP said:
“Unfortunately within the centre of Keighley, particularly at Keighley Bus Station, West Yorkshire police and local residents are constantly having to deal with reports of antisocial behaviour.
The government have now given extra resources to our West Yorkshire Mayor who is responsible for local policing in Keighley to implement the government's tough new antisocial behaviour measures, which should see offenders cleaning up their crimes in jumpsuits within 48hrs of their offences.
But in the run-up to these new measures being introduced, our West Yorkshire Mayor has been wasting valuable time and resources on buying new buildings and hybrid working schemes - at a time when local residents want to see real action on issues like ASB.
It’s time for our West Yorkshire Mayor - who is responsible for setting our local police and crime action plan in Keighley - to get laser focused on this issue.”
