West Yorkshire Police have welcomed a positive response to the Faith Watch scheme, launched in January.
Over 100 faith buildings have signed up to the scheme which is designed to prevent crimes such as theft or criminal damage occurring within local churches, mosques and other religious buildings.
Now police are urging more faith communities to sign up to the initiative which will see representatives become part of a wider network which will share information on crime and other issues within the local area.
It is designed to give people the opportunity to act on any information provided to them and ultimately, prevent or detect crime committed on their places of worship.
Wakefield Cathedral is part of a Faith Watch scheme and last month it became a victim of lead theft. Days later, two men aged 33 and 29, were arrested in connection with the offence and are now on bail.
Inspector Steve Palmer of the Forceโs Local Policing Support Department said: โFaith Watch schemes have been set up all across the county and we have had a really positive response since their launch. Information is circulated regularly in those areas which gives local worshippers the chance to take steps to protect their religious building.
โAny religious building, whether it is a church or a mosque, is an establishment for all of the community. Theft or any crime against a religious building does not just affect those at the place of worship but affects the wider community.
โMetal and lead theft is becoming an increasing problem in West Yorkshire and a large proportion of these are from religious buildings. We continue to urge members of the faith communities to join their local Faith Watch scheme and work together and share information with each other to ensure their local church or mosque is not an easy target for thieves.โ
