CRIME in Barnsley has increased by 13 per cent in the last 12 months following a never-before-seen year in which four murders took place in the town, latest figures have revealed.

Statistics released by the Office for National Statistics show that police have faced a busy spell from June 2017 to June 2018, despite low-level crime such as antisocial behaviour being considerably cut.

As well as this, theft and burglaries have also reduced, although there has been a spike in violent crime, sexual-related offences, harassment and stalking.

South Yorkshire as a whole had 15 murders in the year up to June - four of which happened in Barnsley during an unprecedented four-month period.

Claire Smith, Jill Hibberd, Dawid Szubert and Gary Dean were all murdered during that spell, although none were linked and police said the public had no need to be concerned about the spate.

Three out of the four cases has resulted in police charging suspects with murder - all of which are set to appear at Sheffield Crown Court before the end of 2018 - while an investigation into Mr Dean’s murder remains ongoing.

Chief Superintendent Scott Green, Barnsley district commander, said: “Overall crime in Barnsley has risen by 13 per cent over the 12-month period. However the hard work of our officers, along with a number of campaigns around crime prevention and targeted operations, has helped to bring a number of offenders to justice.

“We have had four homicides, which are the most serious crimes we can have, and it’s important to reiterate that these were not connected and have been treated as individual crimes.

“These happened over a short period and understandably caused alarm, but there was never any need for the public to be worried.

“The increase in sexual offences being recorded is a clear indication that victims and survivors feel more confident to report such dreadful crimes in the knowledge they will be listened to, be given specialist support and we will thoroughly investigate what has happened.

“The figures also show a significant increase in recorded incidents of stalking and harassment, which is in part due to a Home Office-directed change in crime-recording procedures in April 2018, however, this can also be attributed to our considerable work raising awareness of this crime and highlighting the support available to victims.

“I want to reassure our residents in Barnsley that we are continuing to focus our efforts on reducing all crime, protecting the public and encouraging victims of any offence to come forward.”

Barnsley now has six neighbourhood policing hubs - based in the town centre, Cudworth, Goldthorpe, Kendray, Penistone and Royston - and Chf Insp Green commended officers’ work in helping to reduce theft by five per cent and burglary by seven per cent.

“I hope the residents in Barnsley can feel reassured by these figures, in particular the fall in the number of theft and burglary offences as these are highly intrusive crimes,” he added.

“The reintroduction of neighbourhood policing in Barnsley provides communities with teams of dedicated, local police officers, together with police community support officers who listen to and work with the public, community groups, partner agencies and businesses to reduce crime, protect the vulnerable and enhance community safety through problem-solving approaches.”

Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said residents should not be surprised by the rise - although he labelled the figures as ‘unwelcome’.

“The statistics show that crime has risen across the country, including South Yorkshire,” he said.

“While the overall percentage increase is slightly less here than the national picture, any increase is unwelcome.

“Everyone in the country knows by now that the police have fewer resources, both nationally and locally, with which to respond to crime so we should not be surprised that in some areas there has been a rise.

“We know that last year there was an increase in stabbings and other crimes of violence which is why South Yorkshire Police, in conjunction with partners, have been working hard to put together joint strategies to tackle it.”