Criminals frozen out by Arctic weather say police

THE bitter cold has brought a freeze on crime in Rotherham in the run up to Christmas, a top cop claimed this week.Insp Abdul Aziz said that there had been significantly fewer crimes reported than normal in the past week because people were staying at home
THE bitter cold has brought a freeze on crime in Rotherham in the run up to Christmas, a top cop claimed this week.

Insp Abdul Aziz said that there had been significantly fewer crimes reported than normal in the past week because people were staying at home out of the cold, thereby deterring burglars and reducing the risk of theft and other serious incidents.

"This weather has actually helped us a lot because even though people are going out at night, they are just going straight back to their homes as it's just too cold," he said.

"We have actually had far fewer crimes reported over this season, which may surprise people.

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"There have been more call-outs for snowball fights and minor incidents than for crime."

 

Despite plummeting temperatures being hailed the catalyst of the crime freeze, Insp Aziz said that officers still needed to be on the streets during the festive season.

"This is the holiday time and we do need to put the resources in place for that reason, just in case," he said, "But in terms of crime, the snow has seemed to have halted call-out rates quite dramatically."

Officers have been busy with the launch a festive drink-drive crackdown, with early indications showing that more than 23,000 motorists have been breathalysed on the South Yorkshire's roads since the start of December.

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This includes anyone suspected of committing a moving traffic offence, thought to be driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or following a collision.

For the first time, road traffic officers are also inviting drivers to voluntarily take a breath test as a way of educating motorists and reinforcing the anti-drink drive message.

Figures for the first three weeks of this month's campaign show that 23,153 drivers have been breathalysed, with 177 testing positive or failing or refusing to provide a sample.

During the same period, a total of 109 tests have been conducted with five proving positive for drugs.

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South Yorkshire Police's Chief Constable, Meredydd Hughes, said: "With more than 23,000 people tested in the area so far, my colleagues are really making a determined effort to stop drink and drug drivers from killing and maiming others, so motorists had better watch out."

The school holidays, now well under way, tend to be one of the busiest times for Rotherham police.

But Insp Aziz said that it was important not to blame everything on unruly teenagers.

He said: "The sort of perception that some people have about the youth is flawed.

"Yes, anti-social behaviour does happen but it gets blown out of proportion and is always bigger than what it is really.

"There are a few bad apples but not all youngsters are the same."

 
Watch our slideshow of winter pictures taken by readers and Advertiser photographers.