A HOST of measures put in place to combat antisocial behaviour in Barnsley has resulted in a significant reduction in reports, according to latest police figures.
Having been adopted as a borough-wide priority by the town’s policing hubs in the town centre, Cudworth, Goldthorpe, Kendray, Penistone and Royston when the neighbourhood structure returned last year, a report obtained by the Chronicle reveals the full extent of just how problematic antisocial behaviour has been in the town.
From January 2017 to June 2017, 4,645 incidents took place in Barnsley a figure that was slashed by a quarter to 3,287 from January 2018 to June 2018.
The statistics, which are divided into three categories nuisance, personal and environmental account for a wide array of antisocial behaviour from verbal abuse to damage caused in parks.
Ch Supt Scott Green, Barnsley district commander, who compiled the report, praised the reduction in figures.
“The Barnsley district remains at the forefront of neighbourhood policing via its teams and the successful multi-agency Safer Neighbourhood Service,” he said.
“The teams are becoming embedded in their local communities and feedback is being positively received on their presence and impact.
“As a result of the sustained reductions that have been delivered, some modest realignment of resources have been able to take place which led to the creation of a further team and the reopening of Cudworth station.
“A three-tier engagement model is now in place, supported by both the police and council. This leads to effectively tackling underlying causes, protects the vulnerable and communities from antisocial and criminal behaviour.”
According to the figures, there were 8,722 antisocial behaviour-related incidents reported in 2017 a reduction from the previous year’s 10,920 which represents a 21 per cent decrease and police say they are on track to continuing the year-on-year decrease in 2018.
Environmental-based antisocial behaviour, such as illegal off-road bikes, topped the list with 5,975 reports last year a 15 per cent reduction of the 2016 stats.
The biggest reduction was noted in incidents classed as ‘personal’ which includes everything from congregating gangs to verbal abuse resulting in a 39 per cent decrease.
But the latest figures, which cover up to June, still show 414 incidents classed as ‘nuisance’, 97 ‘personal’ and 55 ‘environmental’ cases were reported.
Chris Foster, Chief Inspector of operations, added: “The figures show a lot of positive work has been done to address antisocial behaviour and although there’s still a lot to be done, they do speak for themselves as they show a decrease in incidents.”
South Yorkshire Police axed its former Safer Neighbourhood Team structure in a bid to slash £8.1m from their budget in 2015 a widely criticised decision which saw bobbies being taken out of the communities they knew and moved to Wombwell.
But a U-turn was performed following the backlash and four new hubs in Barnsley town centre, Goldthorpe, Kendray and Royston began operating last year and were later added to by the reopening of Cudworth and Penistone stations.
“We’re in a much better place as have a clear direction of where we want to go with neighbourhood policing,” Chf Insp Foster added.
“The demand increases but it’s clear the local teams and in particular the PCSOs who patrol provide reassurance to residents.
“They are important to have as they’re accessible and build up intelligence of what’s going on in particular villages across Barnsley.
“By having council officers in the hubs, it allows us to work together on cases. That’s really useful, as it’s much easier to get things done when they’re sat across a desk.
“It enables us to do a better job, particularly with tackling antisocial behaviour.”
