A REVIEW into the effectiveness of Barnsley’s neighbourhood policing model could result in more PCs being brought in to strengthen current numbers.

Since officers were redeployed in Barnsley the first district in South Yorkshire to do so as part of a pilot scheme overseen by Chief Constable Stephen Watson and Chief Superintendent Scott Green crime levels have fallen.

Teams at Barnsley town centre, Cudworth, Goldthorpe, Kendray, Penistone and Royston have been in operation since 2017 after South Yorkshire Police performed a U-turn on its previous cost-cutting plan which came into force in 2015 and brought the neighbourhood structure back.

A review, which is ongoing, could see PCSOs’ roles changing and powers potentially increasing as well as the introduction of more community-based PCs.

Sgt Dave Baines said: “The Chief Constable is fully committed and we’ve had double intakes to increase the size of the force.

“This will benefit Barnsley as a whole as ultimately it boosts the neighbourhood policing teams’ numbers.”

The system of officers working directly with communities was scrapped across South Yorkshire under a previous regime fronted by then-Chief Constable David Crompton but that was recognised as a mistake, with neighbourhood officers reintroduced following a public backlash.

Before Barnsley became the pilot town for the scheme, 42 PCSOs and two inspectors were in post but sergeants and PCs were not used.

It now consists of two inspectors; six sergeants; 25 PCs; 42 PCSOs; one licensing officer; one hate crime officer; one designing out crime officer and one partnership analyst an additional 35 members of staff.

Chf Supt Green, district commander for Barnsley, said: “We retain the ambition to expand and improve the neighbourhood offer, as we did last year.

“It remains about reducing demand and if this is achieved it will allow us to free up capacity.”