A BARNSLEY-WIDE crime clampdown saw more than 100 police officers take to the streets this week.
Operation Duxford, which aimed to flush out criminal activity, protect vulnerable people and engage with the local community, took place across the borough on Wednesday.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson, Barnsley District Commander Ch Supt Scott Green and Supt Sarah Poolman joined sergeants, officers and PCSOs for a briefing at Churchfields station before teams were deployed across the town.
Information gathered from Barnsley’s four neighbourhood policing teams, based at Goldthorpe, Royston, Kendray and the town centre, formed part of the action plan, while concerns lodged by members of crime meetings across the town were looked at.
Drugs, antisocial behaviour, illegal off-road bikers and victims of semi-rural crime in Barnsley’s on-the-border communities such as Penistone were identified as key areas.
Ch Supt Green said: “Teams of detectives got off to an early start and carried out intelligence-led warrants across the district before the 8am briefing.
“While a large part of the work was around enforcement activity, identifying offenders and bringing them into custody, it was also about protecting those most vulnerable within our communities and providing reassurance to them.
“We had officers and staff from partner agencies including Barnsley Council and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue spread across the district looking at issues including off-road bikes in Royston, antisocial behaviour in the town centre and rural crime in the more remote areas of Barnsley.
“Officers also carried out intelligence-led stop and searches and people will have seen our mounted officers in the town centre.”
Antisocial behaviour remained a key area for police on Wednesday, despite the number of incidents at Barnsley Interchange and the town centre being slashed by 21 per cent in the last six months.
But talking to communities and showing their presence - especially with three murders having taken place in Barnsley in the last six weeks - was also a big part of the operation.
Ch Supt Green added: “I’d also like to offer my reassurance that tackling serious and violent crime is a priority for the force and we, alongside partner agencies, continue to work hard to tackle this area of crime and associated criminality.
“We’re on the right track in the town centre - there’s a dedicated team in operation and there’s been a significant reduction in incidents being recorded, especially at the interchange.
“A key part of this was the introduction of public space protection orders (PSPOs), which cover the entire town centre area and stop people from acting antisocially.
“Our priority is keeping the residents of Barnsley safe and bringing offenders to justice. We are committed to improving the way we police Barnsley and to ensure both residents and visitors feel safe here.
“We made a point of giving people more information about Operation Duxford but also about the work we’ve done in improving the area so far and tackling the issues that matter most to them.”
