Boost in the yobs battle

New figures show thefts are down 18.7 per cent on last year and domestic burglaries are down a huge 32 per cent to a total of 300.

The improvements far outstrip the South Yorkshire force average of 11 per cent for both categories in the same period.

Meanwhile criminal damage is down 16.5 per cent and vehicle thefts are down 24 per cent.

Total recorded crime has fallen by nine per cent across the borough in the last 12 months compared to the same period last year – across the force the figure is 5.3 per cent.

Smaller drops have been seen in violent crime in Barnsley which is down 6.6 per cent and theft from vehicles which is down 6.7 per cent on the previous year.

And robbery is up slightly, but senior officers say the total number of incidents is tiny - just 38 in the last year.

So far in August six robberies have been recorded, an increase of one on the same month last year.

Chf Insp Gary Boughen said partnerships with other bodies had helped turn Barnsley into a "very safe place".

He added: "I'm very pleased with the figures, morale is high and results are improving.

"I think we have some of the best crime statistics in South Yorkshire - but it's not just a police matter, it's also down to the other agencies and bodies we work with.

"We also have better intelligence than ever and a much more focused approach."

Barnsley pioneered Safer Neighbourhood Teams three years ago to combat yobs.

Now nine SNTs employ about 150 police and council officers in community police stations across the borough.

Police also work with the Neighbourhood Safety Unit to tackle neighbours from hell as well as more traditional bodies including drug intervention programmes and the Probation Service.

Chf Insp Boughen added: "There may be pockets of trouble from youths – it only takes a small number of people to cause trouble.

"But there is no yob culture in Barnsley. The vast majority of youngsters are decent kids."

But despite evidence of a reduction in crime in Barnsley, people believe they are more at risk, according to SNT figures.

In the year to April the number who felt unsafe outside after dark rose from 30 to 35 per cent.