Police to review response on night of disorder

A double-decker bus was torched in Harehills on the night of 18 July

West Yorkshire Police will review their response to the Leeds disorder which saw a double-decker bus torched, a police car flipped and which prompted multiple arrests.

The force said the "debrief" on the trouble in Harehills, which would not be published publicly, would take "several months".

Police received some criticism for their response to the disorder on 18 July, with others praising their approach.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said they would "share any opportunities for learning" with partner organisations.

'Reflections and learning'

The announcement came as West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin confirmed that she would hold an extraordinary meeting about the disturbance.

She said she would ask West Yorkshire Police's chief constable John Robins to share his "reflections and learning" about the disorder.

The meeting today (1 August) will be available to watch online afterwards.

The disturbances broke out as officers responded to reports of social workers experiencing hostility while dealing with a child protection issue at an address at about 17:00 BST.

Speaking before the children taken into care were returned to their extended family following a court hearing, their father told the BBC: "The way that those children were removed is what made the community react like that."

Videos widely shared on social media showed people reacting angrily to the children being taken from a house by officers.

The father claimed his children were handcuffed by officers "like they were some criminals".

West Yorkshire Police did not comment on the claim when asked by the BBC.

Harehills resident Rica Palhahie also told Look North: "We have been involved because they [police] started to be aggressive with us."

Over the next few hours, trouble spread as hundreds took to the streets and forced police to retreat after they "came under a barrage of bricks and missiles from a large group," the force said.

West Yorkshire Police say their review will take "several months"

The force's decision to withdraw officers from an area of Harehills drew criticism from some local residents, although others praised the decision.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin thanked the emergency service for their response to what she called a "very difficult situation".

West Yorkshire Police's assistant chief constable Pat Twiggs said officers were temporarily withdrawn from the area as they had become the "sole target" of those intent on causing trouble.

Emergency services returned to the scene later that evening to begin restoring order.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “As with any major incident, police and key partners will be conducting a debrief.

"This will cover the initial incident which police were called to attend, and our joint response, to share any opportunities for learning.”

The spokesperson declined to comment on which partners would be involved in the review.