BARNSLEY residents have been urged to sign up for South Yorkshire Police’s new free alert scheme to record and track criminal activity in their area.
Updates on crime-related queries can be given as part of the system - which is called SYP Alerts - and every resident in Barnsley can join to receive news, appeals and localised crime statistics via email, text or voice message.
It’s the latest initiative implemented by the force to streamline its reporting services, which has seen its non-emergency 101 phone service come under fire due to its waiting times, while a push towards online reporting has been made in recent months.
Sergeant Dave Baines, who heads the Royston-based policing team which also covers Cudworth, Darton East, Darton West, Old Town, Monk Bretton, North East and St Helen’s wards, said it will enable residents to keep track of what’s going on in their areas.
“The community alerts system is something every police officer in Barnsley is pushing as we want people to have updates to what they have reported and what other issues have been found locally.
“PCSOs and PCs can update the system which sends out a message to residents in a particular area. Those who have signed up for it then have up-to-date information.”
Coun Charlie Wraith, who represents the Cudworth ward, said: “The problem I have with the reporting systems is that there’s always a lack of feedback given to people who take the time to report an incident. The police are constantly asking residents to do it, but they are getting nothing back, so this could be a great tool to have.
“Everyone is fed up with ringing 101 and crime figures are apparently recorded from the amount of calls an area receives. That’s why they are low and I don’t believe they give a true reflection.
“Not everyone has access to the internet although I am not against this method of reporting, it’s important that improvements are still made to the traditional 101 system to make residents’ lives easier. They are wanting to help, but it’s still an unnecessarily difficult thing to achieve.”
The police is improving 101, according to Superintendent Bob Chapman, and callers have been promised reduced waiting times.
“Dealing promptly and effectively with calls from the public is the driving force behind a review we are currently undertaking of our communications centre,” he said.
“There will be two significant technological upgrades which will reduce duplication and the requirement for call takers to search multiple IT systems when dealing with a call.
“While the benefits of this will not be immediate, we do expect to see a reduction in the duration of calls which in turn will reduce waiting times.”
