As part of our borough wide work to help keep residents safe we're 'Joining Forces' with our key partners. Joining Forces brings together key members of staff from the council and South Yorkshire Police.
South Yorkshire Police's safer neighbourhood service and our markets and parking services are based at The Glass Works. This allows the delivery of our partnership approach from a central location at the heart of the town centre.
Our partners
Through our Joining Forces campaign we work together with partners. These include:
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.
What this means for you
You'll see more uniformed services under the Joining Forces banner. This reflects our joined up approach to improving security and safety. We'll also provide help and advice.
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
Report something to us
Barnsley town centre neighbourhood newsletter - June 2024
Problem solving and targeted activity
Armed Forces Day
Barnsley came alive with the sights and sounds of Armed Forces Day: a day celebrating and honouring the brave people who have and are currently serving within the Armed Forces.
On Saturday 15 June 2024, hundreds of visitors travelled to Barnsley Town Centre to partake in the day of celebration, filled with activities, ceremonies, and heartfelt tributes. We were in attendance as well as live performances from The Yorkshire Military Band and Viva La Vintage.
The day was a great opportunity to learn about the armed forces and show support for the people who make up the armed forces community- from currently serving troops to service families, veterans, and cadets.
We were on hand throughout the day with vehicles and an engagement stall, offering crime prevention advice and letting young people experience the workings of the police vehicles.
PC Euan Reilly who was present said: “It was an honour and a privilege to be involved and it was nice to see everybody getting involved. Despite the weather, everybody had a good time.”
Prolific town centre offender arrested
A 25 year-old woman was arrested in the Town Centre for five counts of theft, failing to appear at court and breach of a court order. She was charged for the offences which occurred at various shops within the town centre.
She has been remanded into police custody to appear before court.
Community engagement
The Town Centre Wardens are trained on how to safely administer Naloxone (medication to reverse or reduce the effects of opioids) and carry kits with them.
On 1 and 7 June they had cause to administer it.
On 5 June two Town Centre Wardens talked a suicidal male down from the new Glass Works footbridge.
On 5 and 18 June, they teamed up with officers for joint patrols under the operation name Lumbar-Bravo. The combined results were arrests for breach of Criminal Behaviour Order and an assault, one person was stopped and searched for drugs and five people dispersed from the town centre under the Town Centre Public Space Protection Order.
On 21 June, the Town Centre Wardens and Wardens from the neighbourhoods joined officers to run Op Barley-Bravo which has been created to tackle vehicle nuisance in The Seam car park off County Way. No anti-social use of vehicle was observed during the operation.
Crime prevention advice
As Euro 2024 kicks off last month, we’re reminding buyers looking for last minute tickets to matches to look out for the tell-tale signs of ticket fraud.
In a typical ticket scam, the seller will tell you that they will post or email the tickets as soon as you have transferred the money to their bank account.
Then once you have sent the money, they will disappear into thin air or block you on social media so you cannot contact them.
To ensure you don't fall foul of this type of fraud, we are encouraging people in South Yorkshire to make themselves aware of these top tips for buying tickets safely, as provided by Get Safe Online.
They include:
- Only buying tickets from official vendors, the box office or reputable fan reseller or ticket exchange sites
- Not being tempted to click on social media, text, emails or attachments offering tickets
- Not paying for tickets by bank transfer and instead paying by credit card for additional protection
- Double checking that a page is genuine before you buy tickets from it
A full list of top tips can be viewed on the Get Safe Online website here: https://www.getsafeonline.org/tickets/
For more information on how to protect yourself against various types of fraud, please visit our website: https://www.southyorkshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/
Elsewhere in South Yorkshire
Car thief detained by PD Vinnie
A man who attempted many tactics to evade police action, failed to outrun PD Vinnie in Barnsley Town Centre following a reported car theft.
While on patrol yesterday (Sunday 30 June) General Purpose Dog PD Vinnie and his handler sighted a reported stolen BMW 5 Series on Doncaster Road around 3:15pm.
An activation had been circulated for the vehicle after it was reported to have been stolen overnight from the Doncaster area.
After failing to stop, a pursuit commenced, with the driver reaching speeds of 80mph and driving through red lights, before using the car to ram a police vehicle in Barnsley Town Centre in an attempt to make good his escape.
Unbeknown to the suspect, while attempting to ram the police car to flee from the scene, PD Vinnie was being released from his cage and ready to run.
Vinnie’s handler directed him as he jumped from the car, shouting ‘Vinnie stop him’ and within less than 10 seconds the suspect was on the floor, ready to comply with officers.
The suspect, a 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, failing to stop, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. He has since been released on police bail.
Roads Policing Inspector Matt Collings explains more, he said: “Those who are involved in criminality are more likely to take risks on our roads and endanger innocent people.
“Throughout a pursuit we are monitoring the risks and balancing apprehending those involved in crime.
“Our dogs are an invaluable asset to policing and their drive and determination is commendable. PD Vinnie was able to quickly detain this suspect and ensure the recovery of a stolen vehicle.”
Come and speak to us
Pop-up police stations/engagement stalls:
Throughout each month, we hold several engagement events at different locations across the town centre and the surrounding area. Events and stalls will be held on the following dates:
- 17 July engagement stand at Morrisons 12pm-1:30pm
- 22 July engagement stand at Alhambra 3:30pm-5pm
- 30 July engagement stand at Interchange 3:30pm-5pm
- 7 August engagement stand at Library 4:30pm-6pm
- 9 August engagement stand at Interchange 3pm-4:30pm
- 19 August engagement stand at Morrisons 1pm-2:20pm
- 23 August engagement stand at Interchange 3:30pm-5pm
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.
South Yorkshire Police (SYP) Alerts
SYP Alerts is a messaging system brought to you by South Yorkshire Police for our borough. You can sign up with SYP Alerts you can choose to receive news and appeals, local crime details or prevention advice. It's sent direct to you by email, text or voice message. You can also receive messages on joint initiative work from Joining Forces partners.
Sign up for alerts is free. After signing up you can chose how you want to receive messages and what you want to receive them about. Watch this video to learn more about SYP Alerts, or register below.
PACT meetings
Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meetings are events that are held throughout the borough. They give you the chance to discuss any thoughts and concerns you may have.
You can find details of your local PACT meeting on the South Yorkshire Police website. Select your local neighbourhood policing team then choose the option for meetings and events.
Find out more
- Anti-social behaviour
Behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress to other people living in your neighbourhood. - Crime prevention
Staying safe when you're out and about, on public transport or using a cash machine. - Safer Barnsley Partnership
A multi agency partnership working to make Barnsley a safer place for local people and the borough They tackle crime, anti social behaviour, substance misuse and re offending. - Safer neighbourhood teams
Teams that police places and respond to neighbourhood issues, such as anti social behaviour. - Vehicle seizures for waste crimes
Details of vehicles we've seized that are being, have been or will be used to commit a waste crime such as fly tipping.
