TOWN centre antisocial behaviour reports dramatically increased by 64 per cent in the final quarter of 2024/25.
However, the Barnsley Town Board - which is made up of key stakeholders in the central area including business owners, councillors and the police - believe the climb is to do with wardens encouraging people to report incidents.
A report said: “The number of reported incidents for quarter four has increased by 64 per cent compared to the previous quarter.
“This could show an effort to encourage reporting of under-reported incidents.
“For example, over the quarter, the town centre wardens have been working with shop owners and encouraging reporting incidents of retail crime, which could have contributed to the increase.”
