Sheffield residents “terrified” over drugs, sex and loud music outside their homes

Four residents have complained to housing provider Guinness Partnership over repeated acts of anti-social behaviour in the car park outside their homes in Barnes Court, behind Sheffield railway station, which thay claim have made them feel unsafe.

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They claim that over recent weeks, a large group of teenagers have been using the car park at night to inhale nitrous oxide before driving away.

The residents also claim to have seen drug deals taking place and teens having sex on car bonnets. They also say loud music from parked cars is regularly heard into the early hours.

One resident said: “Imagine if one of my loved ones is driving on that road while they’re driving, it could be a potential danger to any road user.”

Another said they saw a man injecting himself with drugs in the shared laundry room two months ago. Since that incident, the residents now ensure the room is locked but they still say they feel unsafe.

“I now do not go to the laundry alone,” said one resident. “I send my son or I get someone to come with me because I am terrified.”

They said most of the people who live in the property are single mothers with young children who fear for their safety when returning home after dark.

One resident said they run from their car to their home even when no one is around because they are so frightened.

“It makes me so scared when I park my car in the dark,” they said.

They claim that despite repeated complaints to Guinness Partnership the anti-social behaviour has not yet been dealt with.

One resident has contacted the police and been told that CCTV footage will be needed before action can be taken.

Guinness Partnership has now been asked to install said a system.

One resident said: “It’s very stressful. It’s sad, you can’t invite your friends because God knows what will happen.”

A spokesperson for Guinness Partnership said: “Those carrying out the criminal activity are not Guinness residents. We have been working with the police, who have increased their patrols, and will continue to work with them to try and improve the situation.

“We encourage residents to report any criminal activity directly to the police and continue to report anything they are concerned about to us. We will continue to do our very best to address the issues, and we will work with residents to discuss any security measures they would like us to consider implementing.”

South Yorkshire Police said the force is aware of recent reports concerning the behaviour being displayed in Barnes Court. Officers have launched an investigation and are currently looking into some CCTV evidence.

During recent patrols, officers dispersed a group of people following a report by concerned residents, with three of them being dealt with for personal possession of cannabis. 

Patrols are continuing in the area and members of the public with concerns over anti-social behaviour or other types of crime are being urged to report them to police.

Sergeant Elizabeth Wilson, from Sheffield South East Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "We are aware of recent reports being made to us by residents who live in the area and enquiries are ongoing into their concerns.

"Barnes Court and the surrounding vicinity forms part of our regular patrols around the South Street area of Sheffield so it is regularly patrolled by uniformed officers.

"A number of stop searches have been carried out in the area over the past few months, with vehicles being seized and positive outcomes. We will continue monitoring the area and investigating the concerns reported to us by residents.

"This type of work demonstrates the proactive approach our neighbourhood team is taking in order to disrupt criminal activity in the city. As a team we are dedicated to tackling crime, including drug activity, violent crime and antisocial behaviour.

“It is important that the public continue to contact us with information which may help us build our intelligence around individuals and our policing areas. We are here to listen, and to investigate the concerns your raise.”

If you are concerned about crime in your area, report it to us by calling 101 or submitting information online via: https://www.southyorkshire.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us-beta/contact-us/.