South Yorkshire area profile

South Yorkshire Police is the 13^th largest of the 44 police forces within England, Wales and Northern Ireland covering 600 square miles.

The population is 1,317,311 [1], with 8% belonging to black and minority ethnic (BME) groups, as well as significant immigration from Eastern Europe.

As the traditional steel and mining industries contracted, employment rose in the technology and service sectors. Significant regeneration has benefited those areas affected by the decline of heavy industry, such as the Don and Dearne Valleys, which now house sports venues and out-of-town entertainment centres as well as numerous call centres.

Sport and leisure events are significant in terms of policing, and the county hosts five football league grounds, racing at Doncaster, the world snooker championships and international athletics and swimming events.

South Yorkshire is home to two universities, an international airport and four prisons. Motorway networks traverse the county, which is well served by principal rail networks.

Our policing areas are Barnsley, Rotherham, Sheffield and Doncaster.

Our strategic policing priorities are to:

• improve confidence and satisfaction
• enhance community safety
• tackle crime at all levels
• reduce serious and organised crime and protect from terrorism and extremism
• use resources effectively.