Extra police powers to tackle anti-social behaviour after Harehills violence on Bonfire Night 2019

It follows the violent scenes seen in Harehills Road on Bonfire Night 2019 when fireworks and missiles were launched at residents and emergency service workers.

Four police officers were injured in the attack.

West Yorkshire Police arrested 15 people, who were aged between 11 and 23, on suspicion of violent disorder.

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Now, West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council have been granted an injunction to take action against any individual or group that is found to be using fireworks in an anti-social or threatening manner.

This includes aiming a firework at a person, animal, vehicle, building or structure or using a firework to cause nuisance to any resident in Leeds.

The injunction also includes measures to protect emergency workers dealing with firework incidents in the area.

Anyone who does not obey the regulations may be held in contempt of court and could face being arrested, imprisoned, fined or having their assets seized.

The injunction is in place until Monday, November 30.

Superintendent Jackie Marsh, West Yorkshire Police strategic partnership lead for Safer Leeds, said: “The dangerous use of fireworks and associated anti-social behaviour continues to impact on the lives of people in communities across Leeds around the Halloween and Bonfire Night period, despite our ongoing partnership work to tackle the issue.

“Those responsible not only risk causing injury to others, as well as themselves, but they create an atmosphere on the streets where people can feel unsafe.

“This is completely unacceptable and cannot be tolerated, and this new Leeds-wide injunction will give us much-needed additional powers to intervene at an early stage and prevent incidents before they occur.

“We will be making full use of the injunction as part of our efforts to tackle the issue with the aim of making long-term improvements for residents. We hope it will also send a very clear deterrent message to those who think it is acceptable to behave like this.”

Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, said: “We will not tolerate any form of anti-social behaviour in our communities, which is why we took the decision with our partners at West Yorkshire Police to seek additional powers through the courts to help us tackle the deliberate and dangerous misuse of fireworks.

“I am delighted to say that the injunction has been granted, and in doing so will not only provide us with additional tools to stop this type of reckless behaviour, but also with the powers to take quick and positive action against those involved.”