POLICE have vowed to get tougher on burglars who struck more than 1,300 times in Barnsley last year - after figures obtained by the Chronicle revealed just three per cent of offenders were charged.
South Yorkshire Police now has the third-highest residential break-in rate in the country, according to a Freedom of Information request.
A total of 25,343 burglaries were recorded over the last three years across the county, with 8,013 home invasions in 2024 alone and 1,385 in Barnsley.
However, the police’s charge rate of just three per cent has been condemned by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), a firm responsible for seeking compensation from criminals.
Ellie Lamey, from CICA, said: “Being the victim of a burglary can be extremely invasive and traumatic not to mention those instances of aggravated burglary where weapons are involved.
“Moreover the shockingly low charge rate gives victims the impression that there is no support or justice following what can be in some cases, a life-altering event.
“Victims of burglaries can be left feeling abandoned and unsupported but it is important that they know there is help available for them.
“The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, for example, is a government-backed organisation that can offer compensation to blameless victims of violent crimes throughout the UK.
“The pay-outs awarded depend on the severity but range from £1,000 to £500,000 and can be a vital resource for victims who need support to recover from an often traumatic event.
“I have worked with victims and families of burglaries and the impact can be long-lasting.”
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, whose role now includes police accountability in the region, vowed to make impacted residents’ voices heard.
He has also pledged to protect police resources and establish a new ‘Community Confidence Board’ to improve trust and confidence in the force’s response.
Mayor Coppard said: “South Yorkshire Police rely on the money raised through the precept to fund the work that they do.
“After 14 years of police budgets being squeezed by the last government, the money we raise locally to pay for policing is more important than ever.
“I am proud of the work South Yorkshire Police do every day to keep us safe.
“But of course there is always more we can do - I want to see South Yorkshire Police continue to prioritise neighbourhood crime, and when crime does happen, to respond more quickly.
“I want people to have more confidence in policing across South Yorkshire.
“I’m determined to keep our communities safe, to do everything I can to give the police the capacity, the resources and the support they need to do their job and to truly respond to the challenges we face. / / / /
“Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure, whoever they are and wherever they are, and I am committed to making that a reality.”
Superintendent Peter Thorp, who is the lead for neighbourhood crime for South Yorkshire Police, urged residents to report any suspicious behaviour to 101 or 999 in an emergency.
“Anyone can become a victim of crime - criminals do not care who their target is as they are looking for easy opportunities where they can slip away without being noticed.
“The more you do to make it harder for a criminal, the lower the chance of becoming a victim.
“We know that being burgled or having personal belongings stolen has a lasting negative impact on people, so we want to help share advice on what everyone can do to become less of a target to thieves.
“To tackle neighbourhood crime we are identifying trends on how criminals commit neighbourhood crime-related offences and are developing problem oriented policing plans on how we can tackle these rising trends.
“We have found that home CCTV monitoring doorbell systems act as a good deterrent as offenders will sometimes leave the premises upon seeing these.
“Please be assured that neighbourhood crime is a priority to the force and we will work tireless to get these criminals behind bars.”
