Silent Crime: Leeds Chancellor Rachel Reeves says visible police presence would deter offenders - after YEP campaign launched
The Chancellor has said that a more visible police presence would deter offenders, after the Yorkshire Evening Post launched a campaign calling for a crackdown on crime.
In an exclusive interview at Downing Street, the MP for Leeds West and Pudsey Rachel Reeves reaffirmed her party’s commitment to putting 13,000 more neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs back on Britain’s streets.
She told the YEP that having more bobbies on the beat in places like Bramley and Armley would make criminals feel less confident in their illegal activities - and residents would be more likely to make reports.
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It comes just days after the YEP and parent company National World launched our Silent Crime campaign, which is calling for action on crimes that go unreported or unsolved for a variety of reasons.
Astonishing figures showed that in 2023 alone, an offender was brought to justice in just 10 per cent of reported crimes. And according to new research, only four in 10 crimes are officially reported to the police.
Mrs Reeves said: “We have committed to recruiting 13,000 additional police and community support officers, because we recognise that there is just not a visible enough police presence, particularly on our high streets and town centres.
“I know this as a constituency MP in places like Bramley Shopping Centre and Armley Town Street. If people don’t see police on their estates or high streets, they think - what’s the point in reporting?”
She continued: “I also care passionately about tackling shoplifting. Under the previous government, there was the feeling that if shoplifting was worth less than £200, it didn’t need to be dealt with. That had a really insidious impact on what people felt they could get away with.
“If we don’t tackle shoplifting, then it escalates and we will see even greater decline on our high streets. People won't want to go out shopping, they won't feel safe, and shops will close because they can’t make any money.”
Mrs Reeves, who was re-elected in her constituency just under three months ago with a landslide majority, is responsible for communities including Armley and Lower Wortley.
Statistically, they are among the worst areas for crime in the city according to reports to West Yorkshire Police. Between June 2023 and May 2024, there were 2,422 crimes reported - a figure that fell just below the number recorded in the city centre.
Similarly, Armley and Lower Wortley was high up on the list of areas in Leeds with the highest rates of violent crime and sexual offences, with the force recording 2,622 crimes between December 2022 and November 2023.
Mrs Reeves said: “We have high levels of antisocial behaviour and some real challenges in Armley and New Wortley. They are two of the most deprived parts of our city, and there is a correlation between deprivation and other challenges.
“The challenges are real and I know they persist, which is why I’m really committed to getting those extra visible police officers in our local neighbourhoods. That’s what’s needed to give people confidence.”
She added: “I am really worried about people not feeling safe to go out at night. It’s something I’ve spoken to the home secretary about. We want people to feel safe on their local high streets, otherwise they will go into further decline.”
National World’s campaign to tackle “silent crime” - or offences that go unreported or unsolved - comes as capacity at prisons across the country reaches breaking point.
The YEP has previously reported that HMP Leeds, a Category B jail, is almost completely full, and that numbers are only expected to rise further as a result of an increasing number of rioters being sentenced for their parts in unrest across the country.
Mrs Reeves said: “The previous government left a total mess for this government. We were in a situation when we got into government where, within a few days, there was a risk that there were not going to be any prison places left - and police were not actually going to be able to arrest anyone, because there wouldn’t be anywhere to send them.
“There is huge overcrowding in the prison system. It’s at breaking point. We need to build more prisons to keep us safe. That's something that the justice secretary is now focused on.”