Police's 'Zero Tolerance' Warning To Youths, Adel, Leeds

More than 40 youths have been stopped and warned by police as part of an operation to clamp down on anti-social behaviour around a derelict site in Adel.

Officers from the North West Outer Neighbourhood Policing Team focused their attention on the site of the old Eastmoor approved school in Tile Lane at the weekend following a number of recent incidents.

Groups of up to 30 youths have been meeting up at the site - with the gatherings apparently being arranged on the internet - and residents living nearby have been threatened and damage caused.

Sergeant Neil Matthews, who led the operation, said: “We warned that we would be taking a firm stance to address the problems there have been in and around this site, and this weekend’s operation saw us sending out the message very clearly.

“It is worth highlighting that none of the youths we encountered were found to be committing any criminal offences and we don’t believe they are the same ones that have been responsible for the loutish and intimidating behaviour there has been over the previous two weekends.

“It appears some of them are attending out of curiosity but we have warned them, in no uncertain terms, to stay away from the area. If others go there to cause trouble they risk getting caught up in that, plus the dangerous state of the derelict buildings means that anyone entering them is putting themselves at risk of death or serious injury.

“We are currently liaising with the council to improve the security of the buildings and get warning signs put up to reduce the appeal of the site. Anyone caught trying to remove boards to get into the buildings will be liable to arrest for burglary and criminal damage.

“We will be continuing to patrol the area and will deal firmly with anyone we find committing offences or involved in anti-social behaviour.”