Police drive special 'Trojan bus' through Leeds estates to target anti-social yobs

Fifteen officers and PCSOs rode around known anti-social 'hot-spot' areas on Monday night on a specially-provided First bus.

These 'hot-spot' areas were Crossgates, Seacroft, Killingbeck and Whinmoor.

Throughout the evening they engaged with about 30 youths, with a number of those stopped in Seacroft.

Some were suspected of being involved in incidents of stone throwing at a bus and two other passing vehicles.

Details were taken from a total of eighteen young people suspected of being involved in anti-social behaviour.

Further action for the youths is due to be taken in liaison with Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team.

Monday night’s operation followed recent incidents involving buses.

A youth was arrested on suspicion of possessing an air weapon on a bus in South Parkway on Saturday and for a separate incident involving a BB gun on Friday at Seacroft Shopping Centre.

He has been released under investigation.

Inspector Mick Preston, who heads the Leeds East Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We have been doing a great deal of work alongside our partner agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour involving groups of youths in these areas and this week’s operation has been the latest instalment of that.

“It saw a significant number of youths stopped and spoken to by officers and partner services who were deployed into these areas aboard the ‘Trojan bus’ provided by First Bus.

“We will be taking appropriate action against those directly linked to incidents and working with youth services to divert others into positive activities away from the streets.

“We hope this latest operation will help to reassure residents that we are taking the issues seriously and also send a suitable deterrent message to those youths who involve themselves in anti-social behaviour in the area.”