West Yorkshire undercover police officers begin supermarket sweep

West Yorkshire Police have been sending undercover officers into supermarkets following a spike in retail crime, shoplifting and anti social behaviour in Heckmondwike and Cleckheaton.

According to local reports, plain clothes police have begun a supermarket sweep of offenders after launching special patrols to catch suspects involved in crime in larger stores. A man was arrested for a supermarket robbery during the operation.

Inspector David Bates, of the Batley and Spen NPT, said, “Within Batley and Spen, we know residents and businesses have been concerned about retail crime and anti social behaviour in Heckmondwike and Cleckheaton and have launched plain clothes activity to both identify and catch suspects.

"We’ve also increased visible patrols in hotspots to deter offending as well as engage with young people to see what other measures we can take to discourage low level anti social behaviour.”

Neighbourhood Police in Huddersfield and Dewsbury meanwhile have been conducting weapons sweeps in parks and open spaces across the week.

Officers have also been searching for outstanding wanted suspects for offences such as robbery and have made four arrests so far, with one male already charged to appear before the courts.

More activity is planned for the weekend with proactive officers continuing to patrol to hunt down wanted offenders.

DS Andrew Holmes of Kirklees District CID, said, “Proactive officers have been deployed across the district this week seeking persons wanted for violent offences, with a number of arrests now made. This activity will continue and I want to thank residents who have responded to our wanted persons appeals and contacted us with information.

“Intelligence of this kind from communities is vital in helping us track down persons who have been evading justice and preventing them from going on to commit further offending," reports quoted Holmes as saying.