Traditional policing methods had largely been ineffective and there was a feeling amongst some of the dealers that they were largely ‘untouchable’: The community was in a state of despair.
In September 2003 Operation Cape was launched, a highly innovative police operation to restore order and deliver a sustained reduction in crime in the Little London area by acquiring and actively enforcing Anti-Social Behaviour Orders against 66 drug dealers, users, runners and lookouts.
These orders contained a number of restrictive measures, most notably banning individuals from the notorious Blackman Lane area of the estate. The delivery of this operation required an intensive effort from West Yorkshire Police, Leeds City Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, the Court Service and GOYH.
The results of the operation have been most encouraging with significant reductions being recorded in both robbery and vehicle crime. Perhaps even more encouraging however, has been the anecdotal evidence provided by residents and a real sense of reclamation of the community of Little London.
