Positive achievement rewarded

Caption: Uni-4m, a dance group of 5 young men from Carr Manor High School


Caption: Double T, a vocal duo made up of Tila and Tavelan Robinson

Leeds City Council is hosting an awards ceremony to celebrate the positive achievements of young people in Leeds tomorrow ( Wednesday 17 February).

The event kicks off at 6pm at the Town Hall with the awards starting at 7pm. Entertainment is being provided by young stars from this year’s Breeze Has Talent competition; Uni4m, Shauna McDonnell and Double T.

Over 170 young people and families have been nominated for awards in this ‘Oscar’ style event to recognise their achievements in areas including volunteering, parenting, leading community projects and developing sporting opportunities.

The Leeds Young People’s Positive Achievement Awards will be presented by Councillor Stewart Golton, with each winner receiving a certificate and trophy to mark their achievement.

The awards recognise young people and their families who have taken part in a range of targeted schemes funded by a wide variety of partners..

These schemes are set up to target young people at risk of becoming involved in anti social behaviour, youth crime, truancy and exclusion.

Councillor Stewart Golton, executive board member for children’s services said:
“The awards ceremony is a great opportunity to recognise the excellent effort of all these young people, and celebrate their achievements in gaining accreditation for getting back into school, training or employment, or making a contribution to their local communities through volunteering.

“All the young people should be very proud, and I wish them the best of luck for the evening.”

Notes to editors:

Funding was provided by Supporting People, Positive Activities For Young People (PAYP) The Youth Justice Board, The Children’s Fund, Department of Children Schools and Families., NRF, and SSCF.

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For media enquiries, please contact;
Cat Milburn, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 247 4450
Email: Catherine.milburn@leeds.gov.uk

Six prostitutes in Leeds given ASBOs

Six women who worked as prostitutes across Leeds have been given anti-social behaviour orders banning them from areas of the city, following work by Safer Leeds – the city’s crime and disorder reduction partnership – and local Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

Candice Craven, 24, of Bramley, Sade Kamara, 24, of Beeston and Roisin Smith, 20, from Woodhouse all received full three year ASBOs at Leeds Magistrates' Court yesterday after officers from the Holbeck and West Inner Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) and staff from Leeds City Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Unit offered evidence of the women's work as prostitutes in the Holbeck and Wortley areas of the city.

Under the terms of the orders, all three women are banned from entering parts of Wortley and Holbeck and from loitering in any public place throughout West Yorkshire for the purpose of soliciting for prostitution.

The three women previously appeared at Leeds Magistrates' Court on Friday, 22 January, where interim ASBOs were granted against them.

On the same day three other women - Amanda Hughes, 38, of Beeston, Donna Wadkin, 42, of Hunslet and Tracey Wheelan, 19, of Alwoodley - received five-year ASBOs banning them from areas of Holbeck or Wortley.

A seventh woman, Kathryn Nicholson, did not attend court. Her case will go to trial in April.

The orders against the six women are the culmination of the work of the two Neighbourhood Policing Teams, along with the City NPT, and Safer Leeds under a special initiative to deal with prostitution issues in the Holbeck and Wortley areas.

Operation Dairy was launched last year, and during one weekend of action in October more than 50 people were stopped. Seven women were arrested for prostitution offences and nine women agreed to voluntary Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs). Seven men also agreed to Acceptable Behaviour Contracts(ABCs) after being stopped for kerb-crawling.

As part of the operation, those arrested were tested for class A drugs, with those who tested positive given referrals for treatment and support.

Women arrested for prostitution who had problems with other issues such as housing or benefits were also offered help and support.

Supt Simon Whitehead, Chief Officer for Safer Leeds said:
“These antisocial behaviour orders are a key part of our strategy to deal with the problems caused by prostitution in Holbeck and Wortley.

"Safer Leeds staff have worked alongside the Neighbourhood Policing Teams, offering support and advice to change the behaviour of the women who are involved in prostitution and the men who use their services.

"Prostitution adversely affects the quality of life of ordinary people living and working in the affected areas. That is why we are working so hard to address the problems and why it has been so important to secure these Anti-Social Behaviour Orders.”

Inspector Damien Miller of the Holbeck Neighbourhood Policy Team said:
"Our officers have been working hard to tackle prostitution in the area because local people have told us this should be one of our policing priorities, and over the last year we have carried out a number of successful initiatives and operations to deal with the problem.

"Securing these anti-social behaviour orders is a huge step towards putting a permanent stop to the problems, and we will continue working alongside other agencies to achieve this "

For media enquiries please contact:
Michael Molcher, Leeds City Council Press Office (0113) 224 3937
e-mail michael.molcher@leeds.gov.uk
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