A whole range of agencies teamed-up, including police, Leeds City Council, Customs and Excise, West Yorkshire Fire Service, South Leeds Area Management and the local tenant management group during Operation Champion in Belle Isle.

More than 75 householders asked CASAC (Community Action and Support Against Crime) to give their homes a security check-up.

Those arrested were detained in connection with unpaid fines totalling over £5,000.

During the three-day initiative 1,000 information packs were distributed to homes on the Brooms, Newhalls and Aberfields estates and 104 free energy-saving light bulbs were given out.

High-profile patrols were mounted by Police Community Support Officers along with Council Neighbourhood Wardens.

Crime prevention information was also provided by the Police Community Bus.

The advice programme included a fire safety talk by West Yorkshire Fire Service experts to Year Six pupils at Windmill Primary School.

Concern about the issue had been sparked by problems with arson attacks on the Broom estate and also attacks on firefighters while responding to emergency calls.

Also during this latest phase of Operation Champion, fire-fighters carried out 65 fire safety checks at homes in the area and free smoke detectors were fitted to a number of properties.

Programme

Operation Champion is led by Safer Leeds, the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.

The action days run as a rolling programme across the city throughout the year and are an initiative from the Home Office which builds on good work already in place across the city.

It is hoped it will improve perceptions of local areas and help create networks and partnerships with local people.

In previous operations held in different parts of the country there has been a marked reduction in crime and disorder.

Coun Les Carter, chairman of Safer Leeds Board said: "Operation Champion is going from strength to strength.

"Arson and associated anti-social behaviour are clearly unacceptable, therefore I am pleased that West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were able to explain the real dangers of fire to primary school children.

"We will continue to roll out this operation across the whole city, identifying what the needs are of the local community."