Councillors turn to residents to assist in keeping lid on crime

Earlier this month, members of one of Barnsley Council’s powerful scrutiny commission called top police and probation officers to a hearing to give evidence on the impact Government cuts could have.

The chairman of the commission, Margaret Bruff, said the meeting had been “positive” but added she now wanted to hear public views to ensure that what resources were available were targeted in the right way.

Councillor Bruff said without public input, potential flashpoints for violence and criminal behaviour could be missed and added: “Community safety is something which continues to remain important for everyone.

“Both the police and the community safety service increasingly have an important role to play in ensuring the safety of our communities.

“Crime and safety levels could be put at risk if resources go down, which is why we need to look at new ways of working and to see what could be done to involve communities more. The commission now wants to hear from local groups and residents and to identify the real issues that are concerning them.”

Coun Bruff said that, at present, crime and disorder levels in Barnsley and across South Yorkshire, were relatively low, but there were real concerns that Government cuts would affect that. Under cuts imposed by Westminster, South Yorkshire Police faces a budget shortfall of just under £15m this financial year, which is forecast to rise to more than £40m by 2014/15.

Council budget cuts have also meant that Barnsley Council has had to withdraw its support for several crime and disorder schemes, leading to a reduction in the number of community wardens on duty. According to the commission, the meetings with police and probation officers showed there was already the need to develop new ways of working in community policing.

Members said it also became apparent that “there is the need for greater co-operation with communities to identify new ways of getting local people involved, as if not, there could be a real risk of crime and anti social behaviour rates increasing”.

Coun Bruff said members of the commission were now making plans to leave their offices and meet residents to hear their thoughts on how crime and anti social behaviour will change as a result of the cuts.

Members will visit community groups and residents and ask them if they would be prepared to play their part in ensuring crime and anti-social behaviour remains low.

They will also attend Barnsley’s Community Safety Forum at the end of August which involves representatives from all public agencies in the borough.

Coun Bruff added: “In particular, members want to find out what issues residents are now worried about and how they feel their community safety services will be affected or changed.

“They also want to know what has worked well so far in communities and what could be improved or changed to ensure low crime levels in Barnsley are sustained,” she said.

“The commission believes that crime and safety remains a high priority for the borough and over the next few weeks, members will be arranging meetings with various groups, to find out from them, what they feel needs to be done to ensure our communities are still safe places to live in.”

The commission’s members are keen for people to contact them direct if they want to get involved in the investigation.

Anybody who wishes to raise crime or disorder concerns relating to the Government’s cuts can contact Lesley Glanville on 01226 773078 or email lesleyglanville@barnsley.gov.uk