POLICE chiefs have vowed to clamp down on criminals targeting Barnsley’s rural outposts and taking advantage of quiet routes out of the county thanks to a new investment package.
The Chronicle can reveal that more than £400,000 has been ring-fenced from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to specifically reduce rural crime.
Parish councils in Barnsley - which represent the town’s most isolated villages - suggest rates have surged in recent years, leading police bosses to organise rural crime-specific meetings.
As well as residents from Barnsley, the events have also been attended by local councillors and representatives from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU).
As part of the scheme, farmers could receive contributions to put towards the purchase of drones, enabling them to capture any criminal activity.
A police report said: “We define rural crime as any crime or incident that impacts farming, agriculture, wildlife, the environment, or heritage assets in a rural area.
“It is not a single crime but a term used to encompass a wide range of offences that disproportionately affect rural communities, such as theft of farm equipment and livestock, fly-tipping and wildlife crime
like hare coursing.
“The rural crime initiative is due to be launched in January, enabling us to target harden communities to prevent and deter offending.
“A communication plan is being developed to maximise impact.
“South Yorkshire Police will also purchase a mobile station to enhance operations and engagement with rural communities.
“The NFU describe the relationship with the force as the best it has ever been.”
Operations dubbed Chariot, Hawthorne and Star have been focusing on tackling rural crime along South Yorkshire’s borders where criminals have been targeting due to police forces’ boundaries changing and farmers’ far-out locations.
“Op Hawthorne has now been rolled out in every district - over 50 proactive engagement visits to rural communities have been conducted during those operations and these will be revisited to extend the offer of the rural crime initiative once launched,” the report added.
“During October, Op Hawthorne was in the area, when locals described a particular issue with quads on a farm’s perimeter.
“This directed patrols and the quad described was spotted by officers, who hatched a plan to detain the rider and quad.
“Initial attempts were unsuccessful, however, subsequently the quad was recovered, along with a trailer and a significant quantity of class A drugs, along with associated paraphernalia and a large knife.
“South Yorkshire Police has doubled the number of trained wildlife crime officers in the last two years.
“From this month, we are planning to hold ongoing events for these staff to ensure all are actively using their additional skills and consideration is being given to training further in early 2026.
“These staff are generally based on neighbourhood policing teams, aligned to rural communities, and participate in engagement events and operations.
“Rural crime can have a devastating and detrimental impact on residents and businesses alike.
“It leaves those living in rural communities and farmers and business owners feeling even more isolated.
“Theft of machinery or damage to crops and fields can significantly affect farmers, not just financially but it can also impact on insurance premiums, food prices and damage local communities.
“We want to ensure that we are in a position to respond appropriately.
“We’re improving our visibility in our rural communities and working with them to respond quickly to reports of crime.”
