Antisocial behaviour in suburb targeted

A SENIOR police officer in Sheffield has revealed a greater focus will be placed by the South Yorkshire force on a city suburb to tackle underlying issues in the community.

Chief Superintendent Stuart Barton, the District Commander for Sheffield, said the force still has “some issues” in the Burngreave district of the South Yorkshire city.

More detailed plans to tackle disruption in the community will become a focal point in the coming months.

Chief Supt Barton confirmed that he had met with the neighbourhood policing team and community leaders to address serious violent incidents and tackle other issues such as fly-tipping and litter with the council.

Speaking at South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Billings’s public accountability board meeting, Chief Supt Barton said: “We met as a community safety partnership around Burngreave and what more we can do to try and tackle some of the underlying issues.

“Not just around violence, but around fly-tipping and litter. This is something I’m keen to work on with the council.”

His comments came after three men were taken to hospital following a shooting in the neighbourhood around Grimesthorpe Road earlier this month on May 8. Other shootings have also taken place in the Nether Edge and Sharrow districts.

The district commander also touched on fears on social distancing in the Page Hall district, which falls under the same neighbourhood policing area.

Highlighting the social distancing concerns in Page Hall, Chief Supt Barton said despite some problems, only a “small few” were responsible for breaking the regulations.

He added: “The team have done a fantastic job in engaging and educating by using translators and students trying to get the message out there.”