Our partners

Through our Joining Forces campaign we work together with partners. These include:

• South Yorkshire Police
• South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue
• Berneslai Homes
• Safer Neighbourhood Service

Neighbourhood Wardens

Our seven Neighbourhood Wardens work to help deter low level criminal behaviour, environment offences, and anti social behaviour.

Working with our partners, they can offer advice and support if you have any concerns in your community.

They work to promote unity and help people and neighbourhoods to identify and resolve problems. They have enforcement powers on littering, fly tipping, and public space protection orders.

Town Centre Wardens

Our Town Centre Wardens patrol the town centre to stop low level crime, environment offences, and anti social behaviour.

Our wardens have the power to enforce the Barnsley Public Space Protection Order and Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs). They'll try to use low level resolution first.

Their role is to offer advice and support to those who need it. This includes locating vehicles and offering directions.

Barnsley's Public Space Protection Order (PSPO)

Barnsley town centre has a Public Space Protection Order in place. This gives the police, the council and other officers extra powers to deal with low level anti social behaviour. Having a town centre PSPO in place is part of the ongoing Joining Forces work. They make sure Barnsley continues to be a safe, inclusive and attractive place to visit.

Both our town centre and Neighbourhood Wardens have the power to enforce under the PSPO.

Find out more about Barnsley's PSPO.

In the video below, Paul, one of our Town Centre Wardens talks about his role. They enforce the town centre Public Space Protection Order.

Barnsley town centre

Safer Neighbourhood Service

The Safer Neighbourhood Service brings together Barnsley Council, South Yorkshire Police, housing, support providers, and other key stakeholders.

Homelessness and Recovery Steps

Problem Solving and Targeted Activity

Shoplifters arrested and charged

Three known prolific town centre shoplifters were arrested and subsequently charged with 20 offences of shoplifting and were remanded in police custody to attend court the following day.

A Criminal Behaviour Order was granted for three years, based on the nature of their prolific offending and a further suspended sentence for 22 weeks.

On Wednesday 16 October 2024, two young persons who were outstanding for several shoplifting investigations were detained within the town centre.

One of the 16-year-olds was charged with five counts of shoplifting and a breach of court order, where he will appear at court in due course.

During a search of the second male a significant amount of ketamine was located, resulting in his arrest on suspicion of possession with intent to supply. The second male was bailed for further enquiries to be conducted.

Hate crime awareness event a success

On Wednesday 16 October we attended a hate crime awareness event at Hope House.

Hate crime incidents are serious occurrences where individuals are targeted based on their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics.

We were in attendance and were joined by representatives from the CPS and other partner agencies. The aim of this session was to raise awareness around hate crime, and to encourage hate crime reporting.

Education is key in the fight against hate. When people understand the impact of hate crimes, they're more likely to stand up against them. Schools, families, and community groups can play vital roles in teaching respect and acceptance.

The event was well attended, with many interested in learning about hate crime and how to report it through the appropriate channels. If you need to report a hate crime, please report via 101 or use our online portal. However, remember always contact 999 in an emergency.

Community engagement

On 2 October, town centre wardens were called to Morrisons to speak to a lady who appeared to be in distress. They attended and spoke to the lady and subsequently sent a referral to adult safeguarding as they were concerned for her mental wellbeing. Social services were able to contact the lady and offer her the support she needed.

On 3 October, council town centre and neighbourhood wardens teamed-up with us on a joint evening operation to tackle anti-social vehicle use on The Seam (formerly County Way) car park.

No anti-social behaviour was observed in the car park but elsewhere in town, four young people were directed to leave the town centre under the town centre public space protection order after they were found inside a derelict building on Wellington Street.

Prior to the operation starting, eight people had already been directed to leave town for issues including fighting, stealing, and using a bike in a way likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress.

Crime prevention advice

As we enter the dark nights season and head into our colder months, we want to remind residents of South Yorkshire of easy and simple ways they can help us in keeping their homes, vehicles and belongings safe.

We know that the darker nights period brings an increase in two in one and residential burglaries, as criminals look for easy opportunities under the cover of night, where they can slip away without being noticed.

Chief Superintendent Peter Thorp, who is the force lead for neighbourhood crime, said:

“Our officers continue to work hard to ensure criminals don’t take advantage of these easy opportunities and take away belongings that you would have worked hard for.

“We have a number of dedicated operations across the force currently ongoing, and that will be continuing as we head into Halloween and then the festive period.

“These include dedicated increased patrols in areas that have been identified to see higher rates of burglary or vehicle thefts and specialist teams such as Op Castle in Doncaster, who look at repeat offenders and patterns they tend to follow, ensuring they get they get them but behind bars.”

In the meantime, we are asking our communities to take some simple measures to help ensure you become less of a target to these criminals.

Getting into an ‘exit routine’ can help ensure that you don’t forget obvious things like not leaving your valuables near windows or ensuring any spare car keys are locked in a secure place.

Before leaving your home, we recommend that you close and lock any windows, double lock any door, use and set a light timer switch if you’re not going to be home before it’s dark, and ensuring any side gates and outbuildings, like sheds and garages, are locked and secure when not in use.

When you're out and about, you can also take precautions to keeping your personal belongings safe, including keeping your bag, wallet and purse on your person at all times, storing your mobile phone in your closed bag, not your back pocket, and being aware of your surroundings when you are using an ATM cash machine.

Elsewhere in South Yorkshire

We're warning car enthusiasts that dangerous and anti-social behaviour which poses a risk to our communities will not be tolerated on our roads.

We understand that car lovers will want to attend gatherings and showcase their vehicles, but this needs to be done in a controlled and safe way.

Meets that pose a risk to attendees, the public, and cause anti-social behaviour problem for local residents will be dealt with in a robust way.

Unsafe meet dealt with by officers

Upon officers’ arrival, a roadblock was put in place, containing all those participating in the meet; this gave officers the opportunity to check every vehicle to ensure it was legal and road worthy.

Roads policing inspector Matt Collings said: “As roads policing officers, we understand the passion and enthusiasm for cars, but showcasing your vehicle needs to be in a safe way, respectful of those living in the area.

“We've built up a good relationship with some of the known groups of enthusiasts operating in the area, who inform us of their meets and have come to operate really well within the boundaries of the law.

“Unfortunately, there are some that don't do the same, and occasionally we're also see new groups popping up.

“Our message is clear: the roads of South Yorkshire are not a racetrack. We're warning anyone thinking of taking part in meets such as the one at the weekend, where they have no regard for the law or the safety of the public, they will have action taken against them.

“We can seize vehicles that are being driven in an anti-social manner and will carry out thorough checks of insurance, licence, and modifications. We may also report concerns to your insurance companies.

“We're not here to spoil the fun of people with a legitimate interest, but we must ensure that any events are safe and don’t put anyone at risk."

For anyone wanting to organise a car cruise/car meet, please email carcruise@southyorks.pnn.police.uk to let us know or to ask for any advice on keeping it safe and lawful.

Keeping in touch

Pop-Up Police Stations and engagement Stalls:

Throughout each month, we hold several engagement events at different locations across the town centre and surrounding area. Events and stalls will take place on the following dates:

• 13 November – Engagement stand, Barnsley Transport Interchange, 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 3.30pm
• 15 November – Engagement stand, Library at the Lightbox, 3pm to 4.30pm
• 20 November – Engagement stand, Glass Works, 11am to 12.30pm
• 20 November – Engagement stand, Barnsley Transport Interchange, 2pm to 4.30pm

We'll be on hand to answer any questions you may have around crime and anti-social behaviour, provide crime prevention advice, or just for people to have a chat with local officers.