VIDEO: Operation to arrest violent offenders hits Rotherham today

DRUG dealers, burglars and violent offenders are being targeted by a new team of police officers who have flooded the borough today (Monday).
Violent crime task force officers patrolling Rotherham town centre this morning.Violent crime task force officers patrolling Rotherham town centre this morning.
Violent crime task force officers patrolling Rotherham town centre this morning.

South Yorkshire Police’s 25-strong violent crime task force team came together this morning at Main Street police station ahead of the day of action.

South Yorkshire is one of seven UK forces to secure additional funding from the Home Office to prevent, disrupt and tackle serious and violent crime. The £2.58 million allocated to the force will fund task force operations over the next 12 months as officers hone in on crime ‘hotspot’ areas and work to disrupt the work of organised criminals. 

Today is the second of three days of planned action in Rotherham and the team - who have been drawn from across South Yorkshire ‑ will be out and about to support the local policing teams.

District Commander for Rotherham, Una Jennings, said the aim of the team was to make people in Rotherham feel safer and give them confidence in the force.

"This task force has been brought together in order to help facilitate and deal with serious violent crime," she said.

Officers will be arresting “people who are burgling your houses, who are dealing drugs and people who are involved in the higher end and echelons of serious violence”, Chief Supt Jennings added.

"They will also be engaging with people locally about what matters to you, what’s important here in Rotherham and how we can do a better job." 

Throughout the day, people can expect to see an increased policing presence in the district, a weapon sweep and knife test purchasing operations. A knife arch detection point will also be in the town centre.

The task force made several arrests in Rotherham on Friday evening (June 7).

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