Crime rise fears as police feel pinch

Barnsley Council’s Community Wellbeing Scrutiny Commission has asked Chief Inspector Paul Morley, who is in charge of the borough’s force to talk about how his officers plan to cope with less resources.

Under Government-imposed cuts, 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.

At the same time, council budget cuts have meant that the local authority has had to withdraw its support for several crime and disorder schemes leading to a reduction in the number of community wardens on duty.

In a report to the meeting, officers say reoffending has been reduced in Barnsley by 14 per cent in the last 12 months, but warn this may be difficult to sustain.

The report says: “There is a danger that there could be less front-line policing and fewer initiatives to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour if the level of funding falls significantly.