Beggars and drinkers make city centre 'unsafe'

People walking around Doncaster marketImage source, Stephen Craven/Geograph
Image caption,

The survey asked people who lived and worked in Doncaster for their views

  • Published

More than half of people who live and work in Doncaster feel unsafe in the city centre because of issues such as begging and anti-social behaviour, a report has found.

A council-backed public consultation was undertaken to help shape spending priorities, and more than 8,000 residents and businesses took part.

Safety and security was a main priority for people, and many respondents said more patrols were needed.

South Yorkshire Police said that more officers were working in the city centre due to concerns about crime levels.

The Big City Centre Conversation also reported concerns around derelict buildings and a desire to see heritage buildings brought back into use, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Just over half of respondents said they felt unsafe when visiting the centre, and 21% said they felt safe - prompting Doncaster Council officers to suggest that "perceptions" were shaping the views of people who did not go there regularly.

Many people said they wanted work to tackle street drinking and public drug use and to improve cleanliness.

Crime concerns

Shopping was the most common reason for respondents to visit the city centre, but only 11% of people rated the retail offer as good or very good.

Responses will shape how the council utilises two £20m government grants.

Ch Supt Pete Thorpe, Doncaster district policing commander, said: "Officers carry out regular patrols of the city centre, and there is a Public Space Protection Order that allows them to tackle begging, drinking and drug-taking.

“After recognising concerns around the levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, we have increased the number of officers working in the city centre team, tackling issues directly such as retail crime and allowing more patrolling to take place in order to keep the area a safe and welcoming place for people to live, work, shop and visit."

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