Police bring in horses to give anti-social behaviour the hoof

South Yorkshire Police’s four-hoofed officers Stocksbridge, Cubley and Bawtry teamed up with their two-legged counterparts as part of a community engagement event in Eastwood.

The event saw Rotherham Central neighbourhood officers working with staff from Rotherham Borough Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour team to get feedback and evidence from the public.

The police horses, along with handlers PC Tracey Brown, PC Julie Bradshaw and PC Michelle Goodson, patrolled the streets as officers chatted to residents.

The work forms part of the Eastwood Deal — a multi-agency project that aims to engage with communities, reduce crime and provide a visible presence in the area.

Members meet every Thursday for progress meetings and there is a drop-in session at 2pm every Wednesday at Eastwood Clifton Learning Partnership where people can speak to officers about issues or ask for advice.

Police said that crime and anti-social behaviour in Eastwood dropped by 12 per cent in the second half of last year when compared with the same periodi in 2016.

Insp Jenny Lax said: “Our team identified insecure empty properties and contacted landlords, handed out surveys about quality of life and took statements from people living close to properties that have been reported to police.

“No-one should have to put up anti-social behaviour, whether they are being kept up all night by noisy neighbours or fed up of litter piling up on their street.

“There are measures we can take and this activity was all about following up on information given to us by the public.

“We will not tolerate the lives of innocent people being blighted by those choosing to act in a selfish, anti-social and often criminal way.

“We want members of the community to know that we are listening and there are things we can do to tackle anti-social behaviour.

“For example, we can serve closure notices on problem properties, we can issue criminal behaviour orders to repeat offenders and we can also hand out community protection notices.

“To be able to take action we need to gather evidence which is why we have been taking statements and asking people to fill in surveys.

“We want the community to know we are in their neighbourhood and that their voice matters.”