It's more than double the figure recorded five years ago and police have partly attributed the rise to increased police action and a rise in weapons crimes nationally. New police data, obtained by the Yorkshire Evening Post under the Freedom of Information (FOI) ACT, has revealed the areas which are a particular hotspots for this type of crime. These are the 11 Leeds areas with the most weapons possession crimes recorded from April 2019 to March 2020. All images are for illustrative purposes and do not represent a specific incident or location.
1. Little London and Woodhouse
There were 108 possession of weapons crimes recorded in the Little London and Woodhouse ward from April 2019 to March 2020. This ward includes the vast majority of Leeds city centre and the University area.
2. Gipton and Harehills
There were 85 weapons possession crimes recorded in Gipton and Harehills from April 2019 to March 2020 Photo: SWNS
3. Hunslet and Riverside
There were 76 possession of weapons crimes recorded in Hunslet and Riverside from April 2019 to March 2020. This ward includes the south of the city centre.
4. Beeston and Holbeck
There were 61 weapons possession crimes recorded in Beeston and Holbeck from April 2019 to March 2020
5. Burmantofts and Richmond Hill
There were 49 weapons possession crimes recorded in Burmantofts and Richmond Hill from April 2019 to March 2020 Photo: SWNS
6. Armley
There were 47 weapons possession crimes recorded in Armley from April 2019 to March 2020