Joining Forces

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 will be 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 (FPN's). 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 currently 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 will reflect our joined up approach to improving security and safety. We'll also provide help and advice.

Joining Forces

Joining Forces in Barnsley town centre

Joining forces brings together Barnsley Council, South Yorkshire Police and other partners. They make Barnsley a safe and welcoming town for residents and visitors. We have a team based at The Glass Works.

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

Anti social behaviour

We'll keep on working with our partners. These are South Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and Berneslai Homes. We're helping to keep Barnsley and our borough safe.

Report something to us

Tell us about something else.

Have your say in our town centre survey

We want to hear your views and experiences about safety in Barnsley town centre. You can tell us your thoughts by filling in our town centre survey.

Barnsley town centre neighbourhood newsletter - December 2023

Joining Forces in Barnsley town centre

Social media

We're continuing to post on our Facebook page and X account. We've been carrying out street surgeries in outside settings; dates of these are posted on our social media channels. If you see your officers and PCSOs out on foot, please stop us for a chat. For incidents and crimes that are ongoing, telephone 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Our work with partners 

December has been a busy month for South Yorkshire Police and our partners with the build up to the Christmas and new year period.

On 2 December, we conducted an operation in company with Taxi Licensing which involved licensing officers from Barnsley, Wolverhampton and Leeds focussing on taxis that were operating within the night time economy in the town centre. A number of taxis were stopped and checked with a few were dealt with for licensing issues by our partners in Taxi Licensing.

On 12 December, officers carried out a proactive operation in the town centre in the build up to Christmas, targeting drugs use, which focussed on enforcement and engagement with members of the public and trying to deter drug use within the town centre which can ultimately link to other crime and anti social behaviour.

The passive drugs dog was also in company with the officers, and as a result, saw a number of stop searches being carried out and also some enforcement of individuals that were found in possession of controlled drugs. This type of operation with our partners ensures efforts are made to improve the safety of people during the night-time economy and across the town centre.

Police van and dog

Another operation was conducted on 15 and 16 December, this time with our colleagues in our traffic department, as well as CCTV within the town centre.

During this we focussed attempts on drugs within the night time economy and also anti-social driving as well as people driving whilst under the influence of alcohol. The operation brought back some results with vehicles being seized for having no insurance, an arrest for driving whilst over the prescribed limit of alcohol and possession of drugs and well as traffic reports being submitted for no licence and no insurance.

There were also a number of stop searches completed. Again, as with the taxi licencing, this shows that we are committed to ensuring that Barnsley town centre is a safe place to come for all and that we aim to improve the safeguarding of people that come into the town centre.

Police car

Enforcement 

We are working on hotspot areas for anti-social behaviour and community based crime within the town centre.

In the last month, two men who are well known within were arrested for theft of motor vehicle and theft of pedal cycle.

A number of individuals identified as causing anti-social behaviour in the town centre were issued with Public Space Protection Order Dispersal Notices, and also a number of individuals were issued with ASB warning letters.

A few individuals were also summonsed to court for possession of drugs, some of which are known to be involved in ASB in the town centre.

This demonstrates our commitment to taking positive action to make the town centre a safe and friendly environment.

Engagement 

Pop-Up Police Stations/Engagement Stalls:

Throughout each month, we hold a number of engagement events at different locations across the town centre. Events and stalls will be held on the following dates:

  • 18 January 2024 – Morrisons – 11am to 12.30pm
  • 24 January 2024 – Barnsley Transport Interchange – 10am to 11.30am

We will 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.

Barnsley Council Safer Neighbourhood Service 

On 20 December, the Town Centre Wardens participated in police-led operation to tackle anti-social behaviour, child sexual exploitation and violence against women and girls in Barnsley town centre. During the operation, the Wardens dispersed three people under the Barnsley Town Centre Public Space Protection Order.

On 28 and 30 December, the Town Centre Wardens teamed up with officers from the central Neighbourhood Policing Team for an operation which focussed on the behaviour of young people in the town centre during the school holidays. The weather was exceptionally wet so only three young people were dispersed. More operations of this kind will take place into the new year and during future school holidays.

Crime prevention 

The new restrictions on XL Bully dogs are now in force and as anticipated many XL Bully owners and our communities will have questions and concerns.

We are seeing an increased number of calls into our control room asking for advice and guidance.

If you are concerned about a dog in your community and believe those living, or in close proximity to the dog are at risk, please contact us.

If you have a question regarding the ban, or your own XL Bully, please ensure you have read all guidance and updates available to you before calling 101.

Our call handlers will only signpost you to the relevant information, they cannot provide any additional information to what has already been shared by the Government.

If you own an XL Bully please read more about the exemption timeline on South Yorkshire Police website.

Crime prevention advice 

Crime prevention advice can be found on the South Yorkshire Police website.

Keeping in touch

If you need to get in touch, you can contact us in the following ways:

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

Police 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.

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.