News and Knowledge

Domestic abuse reports increase by 22% since start of Euro 2024

Domestic abuse charities in Leeds have issued a warning, stating they are ‘bracing’ for an increase in calls as Euro 2024 gets underway.   Leeds Domestic Violence Service (LDVS) says that the number of calls received has already risen in the week since the Euro 2024 started, and charities even believe there is a “risk…

Police officer speaks out after suffering violent knife attack on duty

PC Mohammed Ahmed, a Leicestershire police officer, has spoken out about his fear of being assaulted again after suffering a knife attack in Leicester.   The 39-year-old officer sustained a facial wound during an incident on Beaumont Leys Lane on 22 September. According to data obtained by the BBC through a Freedom of Information request,…

Police issue ‘zero tolerance to violence’ warning ahead of Euro 2024

As football fans gear up for a month of fun (or tears) at the Euros, police forces across the UK have issued warnings to stop violence among supporters.   Although football often brings fans together to celebrate, it is unfortunately a time when reports of violence and domestic abuse increase when things go wrong.  …

Homophobic hate crime hotspots in the UK amid 462% surge in incidents

June marks Pride Month – A time for celebrating all things LGBTQ+ and raising awareness of how far society has come since the Stonewall riots back in 1969.   But although, on the surface, the world appears to be more inclusive now than ever before, figures show that the LGBT+ community still suffers from terrible…

Boy, 5, hospitalised after suspected XL Bully attack

A young boy has been hospitalised after being bitten by a dog suspected to be an XL Bully.   The incident occurred on Brazil Street in Hull at around 11:45 am on Tuesday, May 28. Police responded to reports of a five-year-old boy being bitten by a dog. The boy suffered head injuries in the…

Historic Abuse: Man jailed for ‘catalogue of sexual abuse’ against young boys

A 70-year-old man who carried out a “catalogue of sexual abuse” against young boys over three decades has been jailed.   Keith Lockwood, of Park Lane, Keighley was described as a ‘serial abuser’ by detectives, after carrying out offences during the 1970s, 80s and 90s. This week, Leeds Crown Court heard how Lockwood committed sexual…

Council told to apologise after refusing to rehome domestic abuse victim

A local council has been told to apologise after refusing to rehome a woman who was at risk of domestic abuse.   Kirklees Council delayed moving the woman for more than a month, despite evidence showing that she was at risk of harm of her former partner, a report by the Local Government Ombudsman found.…

Retail crime: Shoplifting offences highest on record in 2023, figures show

Shoplifting offences recorded by police have risen to the highest level on record as the government sets out new rules to make attacks on retail workers a standalone criminal offence.   According to statistics, more than 430,000 offences were recorded last year – up by more than a third than the previous 12 months to December 2022,…

Child Abuse Awareness Month

Every year, April is recognised as Child Abuse Awareness Month to highlight how important it is to prevent violence against children and educate families, carers and adults on spotting the signs of abuse.   Child abuse can affect a person for life and can be initiated by both strangers and adults that the child knows and trusts.…

Retail crime: Abuse against shopworkers to become a standalone offence

Serial or abusive shoplifters will face tougher punishments as the government sets out new rules to crack down on retail crime.   The new rules will see assaults against retail workers become a standalone criminal offence, as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he wants to send a ‘clear message’ that there will be tough consequences…