POLICE officers in Barnsley have continued to crackdown on the most serious violent crimes across the town after it was revealed more than 2,600 crimes were reported in just one month.
In May, the latest figures available, a total of 2,657 crimes were reported to South Yorkshire Police across Barnsley.
The majority of which - 626 - were in the Barnsley West policing ward which covers areas such as Penistone, Dodworth and Worsbrough.
Each of Barnsley North, Barnsley Central, Barnsley South and North East had more than 400 crimes committed in each ward.
Whilst the Barnsley South East policing ward - which covers Goldthorpe, Thurnscoe and Bolton-upon-Dearne - had just 272 incidents, according to the Police UK official figures.
In response, South Yorkshire Police has been conducting targeted patrols as part of a Hotspot Response Policing Model - a Home Office problem solving initiative which sees targeted evidence-based policing activity in key hotspot locations.
There are a total of six hotspot areas highlighted through the scheme - two in each of the Central and Dearne North wards, and one in both Stairfoot and Wombwell - which have been selected to receive additional patrols.
The Home Office programme has also funded additional resources including body worn cameras for security and door staff, ID scanners, improved security features such as increased lighting and CCTV to provide safer environments.
On Tuesday, July 23, officers from the police’s tactical support group took to the streets of Barnsley to conduct open land searches and ‘good old fashioned boots on the ground’ patrols.
Officers also conducted arrest warrants for nominals wanted for most serious violence offences.
Inspector Joel Turner, who has been working with officers during the hotspot patrols, said: “We use years of data to identify these hotspots areas, identifying areas across the force that see higher levels of most serious violence and antisocial behaviour.
“We then conduct high-visibility patrols and problem-solving policing activity in these areas, with the aim of getting criminals locked up, and taking drugs and offensive weapons off our streets.”
During a search in the central area of Barnsley, officers located a video camera and Samsung laptop which they suspected to have been stolen and hidden away to be collected at a later date.
Several stop and searches were also conducted, recovering Class B drugs and drug paraphernalia.
“We know most serious violence is closely linked to illicit drugs, and so our officers also engage with those who they stop and search to provide advice and sign post to support services if needed,” Inspector Turner added.
“During this operation in Barnsley, we successfully took a violent wanted offender and drugs off our streets.
“We will continue to work with our partners to make South Yorkshire a safer place for all.”
