Category: safety

Posted on

Councillor raises concerns over local policing provision with commissioner

One of our councillors, Geoff Smith, has written to Shaun Wright, South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner after concerns over the future of policing in Crosspool were raised at last week’s Crosspool Open Meeting.

Residents voiced concern following the news that our nearest police station on Clarkehouse Road is set to close due to funding cuts, and some well-known local officers could be deployed elsewhere.

The letter is published below. Geoff has promised to share any response he receives.

Date: Friday, 26 July 2013
To: Shaun Wright, Police and Crime Commissioner, South Yorkshire
CC: Chief Constable, David Crompton, Sheffield District Commander, Chief Superintendent David Hartley and South West Inspector Deborah Pickering

Dear Mr Wright

I am one of the councillors for Crookes Ward in Sheffield. I am writing to you to raise concerns which have been expressed by local people and groups about the future of neighbourhood policing in Crookes, Crosspool and Sandygate.

I am writing to you as Police and Crime Commissioner but also copying it to the Chief Constable, David Crompton, Sheffield District Commander, Chief Superintendent David Hartley and the local inspector, Deborah Pickering.

We value our neighbourhood policing. We know who our local PC is and who our local PCSOs are. They attend local meetings regularly, make themselves available on our high streets to listen to local concerns, are known to local traders and community leaders, know the local area well and move quickly to deal with any particular crimes or patterns of anti-social behaviour.

We are not of course one of the higher crime areas in Sheffield but we have problems with burglary from houses, gardens and allotments, car crime, traffic congestion, noise and graffiti. Local people support the police and are reassured by knowing that familiar faces are near at hand and will deal appropriately with problems and keep local people informed.

We are worried that this is going to change for the worse.
The key elements of neighbourhood policing are police officers and PCSOs who have responsibility for a particular neighbourhood, know it well, and are known locally; and that they are based sufficiently near the neighbourhood that they can get to it easily and quickly by various means of transport.

The future of these key elements seems to be in doubt. It appears that a number of PCs and PCSOs might have a responsibility for a much wider area with a dilution of local knowledge and responsibility. Regarding location we are concerned by the proposed closure of the base at Crewe Flats and the possible relocation to Hammerton Road, or even further away at Woodseats.

The local Neighbourhood Watch has organised a petition on the location issue which you should be receiving soon.

I would appreciate it if you would look into these matters and respond. I will be making this letter public and will be making your response public.

Yours sincerely
Councillor Geoff Smith
Councillor for Crookes, Labour Group, Sheffield City Council, Town Hall, Surrey Street, Sheffield, S1 2HH.
Email: geoff.smith2@sheffield.gov.uk

Posted on

Local police station expected to close in November

Crosspool’s nearest police station is due to close before the end of the year.

Crewe Flats police station on Clarkhouse Road will shut its doors in November, with the Broomhill neighbourhood policing team to be dispersed to other stations throughout the city.

Residents fear that the closure will mean that there will be less visibility of police officers in the area, with our local bobbies less connected and further away from the communities they serve.

The closure is likely to to be the result of cuts to funding. The South Yorkshire Police Federation warned last month that cuts could see South Yorkshire Police officer numbers shrink by a quarter overall between 2007 and 2015.

If you have comments on the threat to the police provision in our community then you can contact the following people to make your views known:

Posted on

Meet your local police in Crosspool on Wednesday 20 March

Local police officers will be offering advice and answering questions on Wednesday 20 March outside Crosspool shops.

The Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) will be in Crosspool from 2–3pm. It’s your opportunity to meet some of the team, get community safety advice and discuss any issues that are relevant to you.

If you can’t get to the shops on Wednesday then you can also contact the South West SNT by telephoning 101.

There is also a Fulwood and area Neighbourhood Watch meeting taking place on Tuesday 16 April at Stephen Hill Methodist Church in Crosspool. A speaker will be discussing safety in the use of the internet covering such areas as chatting, buying and using email. Refreshments will be available from 6.45pm, with the meeting starting at 7.15pm.

Crookes Safer Neighbourhood Team

Posted on

Meet your local police in Crosspool on Wednesday 16 January

Local police officers will be offering advice and answering questions on Wednesday 16 January outside Crosspool shops.

The Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) will be in Crosspool from 2–3pm. It’s your opportunity to meet some of the team, get community safety advice and discuss any issues that are relevant to you.

If you can’t get to the shops on Wednesday then you can also contact the South West SNT by telephoning 101.

Meanwhile, congratulations to local bobby Louise Atha who has won Community PC of the Year for 2012.

Crookes Safer Neighbourhood Team

Posted on

Do the electronic speed signs on Manchester Road really work?

Manchester Road speed signs return
Manchester Road SIDs

Drivers on the bottom end of Manchester Road will have noticed the electronic speed indication displays (SIDs) return last month. We got in touch the council to find out what data about traffic speeds the SIDs have collected.

The speed limit for this stretch of road is 30mph. The idea is that the SIDs slow cars down by making drivers aware when they are driving at unsafe speeds.

The data below from previous periods when SIDs have been installed on Manchester Road shows a reduction in average speed when they are present:

Period Average vehicle speed into town Average vehicle speed away from town
No SIDs on site 34mph 31mph
February 2011 31mph 29mph
July 2010 31mph 27mph

The SIDs on Manchester Road will be there for an eight-week period before they are rotated to another site by the Central Community Assembly.

Posted on

Electronic speed signs return to Manchester Road

Last week the speed indication displays returned to Manchester Road.

As well as showing drivers how fast they are going, the signs display a happy face for vehicles travelling under the speed limit and a sad face for those exceeding it.

The idea is that they slow cars down by making drivers aware when they are driving at unsafe speeds. The speed limit for this stretch of road is 30mph.

Speed indication displays were installed in a similar locations on Manchester Road in July 2010 and January 2011.

Background information about Manchester Road speed signs

Manchester Road speed signs return
The electronic speed signs on Manchester Road have returned
Posted on

Safer Neighbourhood Team in Crosspool on Wednesday 29 August

Police officers will be offering advice and answering questions to Crosspudlians on Wednesday 29 August outside Spar.

The Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) will be in Crosspool from 2–3pm. It’s your opportunity to meet some of the team and to get community safety advice, discuss any issues that are relevant to you or to get crime reduction information.

Representatives from the South West Community Assembly will also be there.

Meanwhile, the latest Crookes Safer Neighbourhood Area newsletter from the police highlights their efforts to combat thefts of pedal cycles and items from motor vehicles in the locality. They also flag up milk thefts from people’s doorsteps in the early hours – you can phone 101 to report any suspicious activity.

Crookes Safer Neighbourhood Team

Posted on

Safer Neighbourhood Team in Crosspool on Wednesday 25 July

Police officers will be offering advice and answering questions on Wednesday 25 July outside Spar.

The Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) will be in Crosspool from 2–3pm. It’s your opportunity to meet some of the team and to get community safety advice, discuss any issues that are relevant to you or to get crime reduction information.

Meanwhile, the latest SNT newsletter reports that a male was stopped in a white transit van who was collecting scrap in the Crosspool area. After checks, the male was reported on summons for no insurance and having no waste carriers licence.

Crookes Safer Neighbourhood Team