Police look to public for help in making streets safer

South Yorkshire Police Authority, which oversees the work of officers on the street, plans to visit town centres across the county over the next few weeks as part of the exercise. Members of the authority and their staff will be handing out information leaflets about their work and asking the public what their top five policing priorities are for 2011-2012.

Priorities have already been set for 2010-2011 and authority members hope to find out if people are happy with the service they are receiving for their council tax money.

The authority said this year's priorities included improving confidence and satisfaction, community safety, effective use of resources and tackling the most serious crime.

The authority's chairman, Charles Perryman, said: "Considering the funding challenges facing police forces in the future we are keen to see what is most important to local residents so that we can prioritise the way in which services are provided, making sure they are in line with public opinion.

"With the public's help we can continue to keep recorded crime figures falling by making sure we are tackling the right areas for a safer South Yorkshire."

Police authority staff will be handing out leaflets between 11am and 2pm at the Crystal Peaks shopping centre, near Mosborough, Sheffield, and will move into the city centre on Thursday. On Friday they will be out in Barnsley town centre, before moving to Rotherham town centre on Monday and then on to Doncaster's Frenchgate bus station on Tuesday.

The leaflet and survey can also be found on the internet at www.southyorks.gov.uk. All completed surveys will be entered into a prize draw to win 100 of shopping vouchers.