Fear of crime rising in Dearne Valley

EVIDENCE gathered by the Police Authority has indicated that the public feel that the problems of crime and anti-social behaviour are continuing to rise.

The results came as part of a survey of 100 people carried out in the Dearne Valley Safer Neighbourhoods area and comes three months after South Yorkshire Police's Your Voice Counts Survey, conducted in July.

The survey did indicate that the rate of increase in antisocial behaviour and general crime had slowed in recent months.

When asked how they perceived crime levels had altered in the past 12 months, ten per cent of people said it had increased, compared to 47 per cent in the July survey.

When asked how do you think the level of antisocial behaviour in Dearne has changed in the last 12 months, 15 per cent said it had increased, compared to 32.9 per cent in July.

In response to a question about the quality of neighbourhood policing in their area 57 per cent of those who took part in the survey said they thought is was “excellent”—a ten per cent increase on July’s results.

Dearne Safer Neighbourhood Team Inspector Alan Simpson said: “The Your Voice Counts survey results in 2008 were lower than we hoped.

“Since that time, Dearne SNT have worked determinedly to improve opinions and we are happy that the results show this.”

Recently we asked how you felt about the anti-social behaviour in Rotherham. Click here to read the responses.