A new strategy aims to make Sheffield safer by focusing on tackling hate crime, anti-social behaviour, serious violence, and tackling drug crime.
The Safer Sheffield Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy 2025-28 aims to make Sheffield a safer place for communities and neighbourhoods to flourish, where safety and care is prioritised for residents.
Councillor Kurtis Crossland, Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee at Sheffield City Council said: “Sheffield is a very safe city, but we know that there’s more we can do to help our communities.
“Safety underpins our ambitions to ensure the city is prosperous and where all our residents can thrive.”
The strategy has been developed by the Safer Sheffield Partnership, which has been working for over 20 years to bring together Sheffield City Council, South Yorkshire Police and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.
The Safer Sheffield Partnership commissioned a detailed analysis to pinpoint what the crime and anti-social behaviour priorities should be. Followed by public consultations to ensure that Sheffield residents have their say on what the strategy will be prioritised.
The proposed priorities include tackling the supply of drugs and reducing serious violence ,hate crime, neighbourhood crime, re-offending, anti-social behaviour, and protecting vulnerable people.
Deborah Hollingsworth, a Crookesmoor resident said: ‘’I’m lucky that this area doesn’t have a lot of problems with things like drug crime and hate crime.
The city centre needs a lot of work with these things so I’ll be interested to see what the council can do.
‘’If I could see one thing get better it would be to help the people who need it most. If you’re in a tough situation it can lead to things like having problems with drugs, violence.’’
Working towards better safety in Sheffield’s city centre specifically has also been identified as a priority by the Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee.
Corinne Whitlow, a Sheffield city centre shopper said: ‘’There’s a lot of problems here, especially if it’s the wrong time like late at night, you don’t really want to be here.
During the day it’s alright, just really busy but if you come here at night you’ll see all types of problems with people on drugs.’’
The draft Safer Sheffield Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy 2025-28 will be considered at a Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee meeting on Monday 31 March 2025.