Updates:
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Volunteering to look after the vulnerable at night in Doncaster Town Centre
Special Constables from South Yorkshire Police, volunteers from Street Pastors and paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service have all joined forces to provide immediate assistance to people in Doncaster town centre on a Friday and Saturday night.
Two Specials and a paramedic are now based together in a police vehicle in the town centre on a Friday and Saturday night. If a 999 call comes through requesting an ambulance in the town centre, the team can attend almost immediately and treat the injured person, therefore reducing the amount of people visiting A&E on a night out and reducing the ambulance call out rate.
With the Specials also in attendance, should the injured person become aggressive or violent, they have the same powers as a police officer and the paramedic can still treat the person without having to wait for officers to attend. This in turn allows police officers to deal with other public order offences in the town centre.
Once the injured person is treated, a volunteer from Street Pastors, an initiative run by local churches throughout the UK, can stay with them if they are vulnerable or alone until a lift can be arranged or they can get a taxi, to ensure they are safely on their way home.
Street Pastors also patrol the town centre streets on Saturday nights from 10pm to 4am, seeking to help and support people on their night out should they have had too much to drink or if they have become separated from their friends and are in a vulnerable position.
Throughout the month of December, the Specials and paramedic attended 80 incidents. From these incidents, 73 people were treated for minor injuries at the scene, where ordinarily they would have attended A&E or have been taken to hospital via an ambulance call out. Throughout January, 41 incidents were attended with 38 people being treated at the scene.
The Street Pastors patrolled for 95 hours throughout December, attended 19 incidents, issued 70 pairs of flip flops to prevent any injuries to people found wandering the streets without shoes on, handed out 16 bottles of water and three foil blankets, helping in total 108 people.
Chief Inspector Neil Thomas said: “The Special Constables in Doncaster have a very important role and deserve recognition for their excellent contribution, as do the Street Pastor volunteers and paramedics, who are all working together to ensure people are safe and have help should they have any problems in the town centre.”
Rod Morrison, chair and local coordinator of Doncaster Street Pastors said: “We are all truly dedicated to ensure we can make a difference by caring, listening and helping people in Doncaster on a night out should they come into any difficulties.”
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Do you know this man?
Police in Doncaster are trying to trace a man after an alleged distraction burglary at Emley House on St James Street.
The incident happened on Wednesday, 11 January around 4pm after the occupant, an elderly woman, was followed into the communal area of the flats by a man.
The man then tricked his way into her flat by saying he needed to check the water pressure. Once inside he asked the woman to hold the taps in her kitchen to feel for any changes in the water pressure. After around 20 minutes, the man left and the woman discovered that drawers had been opened in various rooms and £80 was missing from her purse, which was in her handbag in the living room.
Police have released a CCTV image of the man they are trying to trace in connection with this theft.
Inspector Amanda Hunter said: "I would urge anybody who may recognise the man from the CCTV image to contact us immediately. I would also like to advise residents to be vigilant to this type of offence. If someone calls at your door without an appointment, always ask to see their ID and check with their company before allowing them to enter. The simple message is if your not sure, don’t open the door."
Anybody with information should contact the police on 101 quoting incident number 671 of the 11 January 2012 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Keep vehicle keys out of sight!
Police in Doncaster are reminding residents to be extra careful with the security of their cars and to keep vehicle keys out of sight in the home after a slight increase in two in one burglaries over the last few weeks.
This is where the offender breaks into the house to steal car keys, which have been left unattended and on view in the home. Bawtry, Tickhill and Armthorpe seem to be the most effected areas but this is an issue across Doncaster.
Acting Detective Chief Inspector, Steve Whittaker said, "We are doing everything we can to prevent and detect these type of offences and I would urge the public to assist us by removing their car keys from view."
"Residents should treat their car keys as they would any other expensive item and not leave them lying around the house."
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Man charged after causing damage to vehicles in Doncaster.
A 30-year-old man has been charged with five accounts of criminal damage after allegedly causing damage to vehicles parked on Chequer Avenue, Hyde Park.
He slashed the tyres of five vehicles parked on the road in September this year, causing £700 worth of damage. Police investigated the incident and arrested him in November. He appeared at Doncaster Magistrates Court in November where he was bailed until January.
Sergeant Carl Lindley said: “This kind of mindless criminal damage causes upset and concern to the owners of the vehicles and subsequently residents in the local area. We will continue to conduct high visibility patrols in the area to prevent similar incidents from happening.”
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Don’t leave keys in vehicles is the message from South Yorkshire Police
Police in Doncaster are reminding people not to leave keys in the ignition of their vehicles, after a slight increase in theft of vehicles due to this reason.
Police are asking the public particularly delivery drivers, to be sensible and remove their keys from the ignition, when they park up.
Detective Inspector Steve Whittaker said: “Over the last few days there has been a slight increase in the number of vehicles stolen after keys were left in the ignition.
“Delivery drivers are targeted the most, as they are more likely to be parking up and leaving their vehicle for a short time while they deliver something. It only takes a minute for a thief to get in the vehicle and drive off before the delivery driver returns. Please be sensible and help us stop these thefts.”
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Antisocial Behaviour and Criminal Damage reduced in Doncaster
Incidents of antisocial behaviour and criminal damage across Doncaster have dropped when compared to the same period last year.
The period of 29 October to 6 November, generally sees an increase in incidents of antisocial behaviour and criminal damage throughout the county, yet this year, the amount of incidents have dropped by a fifth in Doncaster.
In 2010, there were 610 incidents of antisocial behaviour and 169 incidents of criminal damage reported in Doncaster.
This year, 487 incidents of antisocial behaviour were reported, giving a 20% reduction, and 134 incidents of criminal damage, giving a 21% reduction, over the nine day period.Chief Inspector Neil Thomas said: “This is a fantastic result and I am pleased we have seen this decrease. All public sector organisations in Doncaster have worked together to assist in reducing the number of incidents, and a variety of activities and events were provided for young people to be involved in that were really well attended.
“With the launch of the new non-emergency number for the police, 101, I would always encourage people to report any incident of antisocial behaviour or criminal damage so that we can continue to tackle these issues and make Doncaster a safe place to live, work and enjoy.”
Councillor Cynthia Ransome, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “This is excellent news for Doncaster and the reductions are a testament to the hard work of our public services. Antisocial behaviour is a big concern for many residents and we will continue to work together to address their concerns. “
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