Police are still searching for at least 100 people involved in violent disorder in Leeds back in July, according to a meeting of the county’s police and crime panel. West Yorkshire Police’s Chief Constable John Robins informed the meeting that 35 arrests have been made so far in regards to the events of that night, but emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and will continue “for some time”. Trouble broke out in Harehills after the police were called in by the city’s children’s services to help in the process of putting four children into care. The overwhelming majority of people involved in the disorder were from the Harehills area itself, although some were believed to have come from other places later during the night.
Officers were praised by Robins for their efforts in handling what they faced during the disorder. He praised the front-line police officers, who encountered a “series of violence and situations that were unannounced, unplanned and came out of absolutely nowhere”. Despite police operations being “quickly overwhelmed”, he expressed gratitude for the community and volunteers who provided help on the night, adding that no members of the public were injured in the violence.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin hailed the councillors and community figures who worked tirelessly during the night, throughout which nobody was hurt, as a “good outcome”. She is now developing a “programme of consultation” with Harehills community members to seek feedback from the incident, and she has said issues arising from that would be discussed at a meeting due to take place in November. Brabin hopes to speak with the community over their thoughts, questions for the Chief Constable and the police in relation to Harehills, and what steps to be taken going forward
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