Drugs and weapons found at Huddersfield bus station as criminals hit in crackdown

Drugs and weapons were seized by police in a crackdown at crime-hit Huddersfield bus station.

Officers used a 'drugs dog' capable of sniffing out illegal substances in the latest operation to weed out dealers and other criminals at the crime hotspot. Earlier this year a security guard at the bus station spoke about daily abuse and attacks.

West Yorkshire Police's Huddersfield town centre police team are planning more operations following the most recent work to curb anti-social behaviour and crime at the bus station.

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Officers using the drugs dog late last week stopped and searched 17 people, leading to seven seizures for drugs and four for alcohol. One man arrested for drunken and disorderly behaviour.

One person was also reported for summons to court with three others given community resolutions.

The initiative was the latest in a swathe of activity by the town centre team to curb anti-social and criminal behaviour at the bus station following recent public concern about issues there.

In recent weeks, officers have been conducting plain clothes patrols at the station to catch out criminals, and have conducted high visibility operations. Both of these have resulted in arrests, as well as drugs and weapons seizures.

The bus station also has a dedicated Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) who attends on "numerous occasions during the week," police said.

Sergeant Graham Watson of the Huddersfield Town Centre Proactive Team, said: "This latest operation has been just one element of a significant amount of ongoing work to make it crystal clear that ASB (anti-social behaviour) will not be tolerated at the bus station.

"We know the distress issues there have caused commuters and have bolstered our presence as a result.

"Officers in plain clothes and high vis are now regularly seizing drugs and alcohol and making arrests for offences including drugs and weapon possession and drunk and disorderly behaviour. We intended to continue these operations over the course of 2024.

"Additionally, thanks to funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, a dedicated safer travel team PSCO also works from the area to provide additional policing support

"We continue to ask anyone who has information or intelligence about those committing criminal acts in Huddersfield to contact the team on 101 or online.

"As we have said, commuters should be able to go about their business safely and we intend to make sure they can."

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