This annual report marks the final year of delivering the Police and Crime Plan 2021–2024.

As your Mayor, I’ve worked alongside the police, partner agencies and my Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE, to make our region a safer place. We have made great strides over the past three years towards building a safe, just and inclusive West Yorkshire. Alongside West Yorkshire Police, we have risen to meet multiple challenges including dealing with increasing costs, decreased Home Office grants and an everchanging political landscape.

I recognise it is vitally important that we continue to work to restore public trust and confidence in the police service. My focus has remained on securing stronger frontline policing services so we can achieve the best possible outcomes for our residents and businesses.

This year, we have bolstered frontline policing thanks to local investment with new officers and specialist staff. I delivered on my pledge to increase numbers of police officers and staff, with 895 more recruited in the last three years. This includes a Safer Travel Team to increase bus safety, which was made possible through £1m in funding from my Bus Service Improvement Plan, with 15 full time PCSOs who patrol bus stations and buses across the region. This fantastic initiative aims to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, increase the safety of women and girls, and reassure and protect more vulnerable travel users.

We have been successful in securing Home Office funding to tackle anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, and neighbourhood crime. Projects include bystander training to improve the safety of women and girls, days of action and new technology targeting anti-social behaviour, such as the inappropriate use of off-road bikes as well as increased CCTV. This investment has supported a range of projects that has made a real difference to our communities.

During the spring, we launched a first-of-its-kind dedicated Women’s Safety Unit which is an intervention I’m particularly passionate about. The team is a pioneering partnership that comprises members from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the county’s Violence Reduction Partnership and West Yorkshire Police. As Mayor, I want every woman and girl in our region to know that we’re here for you, we’re fighting your corner, and we will not stop until each and every one of you feels safe.

This year has also seen West Yorkshire recognised nationally for the very high quality of our independent custody visiting scheme. The West Yorkshire scheme was presented with a Gold quality assurance award by The Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) and I’m delighted our work has been recognised nationally for the excellent standard it provides. The scheme plays a crucial role in ensuring West Yorkshire Police uphold a high standard of care in their custody suites.

We have also seen the continued success of the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund, which uses proceeds of crime money seized by West Yorkshire Police to improve community safety. Grant Round 5 was our largest ever fund with over £1 million awarded.

I would also like to highlight West Yorkshire Vision Zero and the great work of the Vision Zero Board chaired by my Deputy Mayor Alison Lowe. West Yorkshire Vision Zero is a road safety partnership aiming to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all in West Yorkshire. This year has seen the creation of a Vision Zero Strategy with a launch scheduled for Summer 2024.

This report details an array of different projects and services we have led on or contributed to over the past year as we conclude my first ever Police and Crime Plan as Mayor of West Yorkshire. As we look forward, my focus is on delivery of further successful initiatives in our communities, in conjunction with partners, to create a Safe, Just and Inclusive West Yorkshire.

Download the Annual Report 23/24

Tracy Brabin
Mayor of West Yorkshire