A CRIME clampdown in an area described as ‘Barnsley’s worst street’ is set to be launched by South Yorkshire Police - for the second time this year.
Milgate Street in Royston, which spent six months as a local policing priority last year due to its rising crime figures, will receive daily patrols from officers after residents complained about antisocial behaviour at a crime meeting held in the village.
While that will be in place for the next six weeks, the Chronicle can also reveal that Operation Duxford - a police-led one-day project which sees officers from the town’s four hubs come together to tackle one particular hotspot - will return to the street next week.
A previous operation, held in February, resulted in drugs, vehicles, knives and four pit bull terriers being seized from the street which was awash with more than 100 officers.
A total of ten vehicles were taken by the DVLA for no insurance or tax, and 12 community protection notices were issued by officers for environmental concerns such as fly-tipping at properties owned by absent landlords.
Coun Tim Cheetham said: “Duxford is a great scheme which tends to yield results, as we saw on Milgate Street last time. There’s not been a particular rise in complaints recently, but the police have their reasons for choosing it and it’s something that’s welcome.
“It’s like many other hotspots - there’s periodic problems, some months are quiet and others aren’t.”
The council, Berneslai Homes, VOSA and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue are set to work alongside police.
A recent survey, which was carried out by the council, revealed that 77.1 per cent of residents thought fly-tipping was its biggest problem, although more than half complained about rowdy behaviour and youth gangs.
One resident, who did not wish to be named, blamed the continued issues on the minority - and said it’s unfair to tar every person with the same brush.
“There’s a lot of good people on the street, some who have lived here for years. It’s the odd few who are continuing to do as they please, so it had to be brought to the police’s attention.
“Drug dealing has been rife recently. Out of 100 or so homes, there are maybe seven or eight people who are responsible for the problems. The issue is with them as their presence brings others into the area.
“Absent landlords have always been a problem for as long as I’ve lived on Milgate Street, which is almost 15 years. Those of us who do look after our homes and mind our own business are the victims as we’ve had to put up with all sorts.
“People are always saying it’s Barnsley’s worst street as it’s a problem that doesn’t seem to get better, no matter how many times police name it as their priority.”
