One assault is too many: Attacks see fresh call for action

Community wants bigger police presence to keep women safe

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Students, residents and business owners in have called for action to be taken following a string of sexual assaults.

The incidents happened on Woodhouse Moor in the early hours of last Thursday. Police said yesterday that a 20-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the assaults and remains in custody.

But people in the area have called on police to do more. Kieran Madden, who recently opened Hyde Café at the end of Headingley Lane, said: "It's an awful thing that happened. You wish we are in an age where we shouldn't be having to deal with people being sexually assaulted."

He called for a greater police presence in the Hyde Park area and for lighting and CCTV in Woodhouse Moor as a way of deterring criminal activity.

He said: "Unfortunately it's happened and we have to look at ourselves as a community and individuals to stop it from happening again. One assault is too many."

Mr Madden suggested a local business group, similar to Leeds BID, for the Headingley and Hyde Park area that could help monitor issues and fund security measures.