The Hoyland Safer Neighbourhood Team and and its partners are returning to an Elsecar  neighbourhood to ensure crime is eradicated and pride restored.

In October 2009 a week-long, multi-agency blitz was carried out at Welland Crescent in Elsecar, Barnsley. Since the operation the number of incidents reported to police is down by 58 per cent.

Officers and partner agency representatives are returning to the street from Wednesday 21 April to Thursday 22 April to ensure the good work carried out to rid the area of crime, litter, fly-tipping, antisocial behaviour and arson has been maintained.

PC Paul Davies, of Hoyland SNT, is leading the operation on behalf of South Yorkshire Police.

He said: “The problems of Welland Crescent were not completely resolved in October, but the blitz showed a commitment by police and partner agencies to tackle the issues.  Results from the operation show how effective a short-term blitz can be in cleaning up an area and tackling criminal activity.

“Since October there has been a considerable reduction in reports of crime. However, there is still a lot more work to do by police and our partner agencies. 

“We are trying to instil pride in the community and want residents to report crime and any incident which blight the community, such as fly-tipping. We will be taking a zero-tolerance approach to crime on Welland Crescent.”

Elsecar residents will see South Yorkshire Police conducting high-visibility patrols and prosecuting offenders where possible.  During the operation six months ago, SNT officers stopped and searched 18 people, seized two vehicles and 7,500 cigarettes and arrested one woman for a public order offence. Police patrolled for 320 hours and the Force helicopter supported officers on the street.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue will provide fire prevention advice. In October, 42 smoke alarms were installed and every household was given information about the dangers of arson and wheelie bin fires.

The Department of Work and Pensions will investigate any fraudulent benefit claims and will revisit previous addresses. The DWP team visited 17 properties and received 13 statements from people in October.

Gas and electricity companies will carry out safety checks on metres and will ensure appliances are maintained lawfully. Six months ago, 50 properties were checked – nine of which were considered unsafe and possibly fraudulent.

Sheffield City Council’s Environmental Regulatory Unit will target addresses with gardens still in a poor state and will serve notices where possible. Households already given a helping hand to clear-up will be checked to ensure standards have been maintained. The previous operation ensured each property had access to a skip. About 100 man hours were put into removing 100 tonnes of rubbish.

The Children and Young Person’s Officer and Education Welfare Officers will also target youngsters truanting from school. Officers were reassured to find just one pupil truanting during the previous operation.

The council’s dog warden will visit households with problem pets and Community Payback offenders will clear communal areas identified by the Environmental Regulatory Unit and police. Offenders sentenced to community work by Sheffield’s courts assisted with rubbish removal during 150 hours of work last year.

TV licensing officers will also be prosecuting homes without a licence. Fines were issued to five home-owners in October.

Bernslei Homes will be checking on their properties and the council’s youth services will engage with youngsters in the area.

From October 2009 to March 2010, recorded crime on Welland Crescent is down by 43 per cent. Reported incidents on the street are also down 58 per cent.