POLICE have launched new tactics to control those responsible for domestic violence in Barnsley, with officers now making arrests at more than one in two incidents they are called to.

Officers are also making more use of legal notices to control the actions of those suspected of domestic abuse and to help safeguard children, who are often present when incidents unfold.

Barnsley’s police commander, acting Chief Supt Sarah Poolman, said: “We have really taken some steps in the right direction.

“We wanted to look at the longer journey for the domestic violence victim,” she told South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings, at a meeting of his Public Accountability Board,

A ‘high risk domestic violence team’ has been created, responsible for ‘positive outcomes’ in more than 50 per cent of cases, in most cases meaning criminal charges, she said.

Domestic violence has been notoriously difficult for police to pursue effectively in the past because many victims are reluctant to make complaints against a partner, restricting the options left open to investigators.

She told the board: “It just shows if you dedicate resources to it, you get the victim on board and are able to prosecute.

“That has been recognised and is part of the picture of what we do across the force,” she said.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Forber added: “We are really encouraged by the work in Barnsley and are actively looking at how we can roll out a similar approach across the force.”

The promised increase in officer numbers next year should give commanders the flexibility to divert more staff into that work: “There is real scope to improve outcomes,” he said.

Chief Constable Stephen Watson also explained how the force now tries to protect children caught up in domestic incidents.

“Most victims are women and there are children in the household,” he said.

“We have a safeguarding responsibility.”

That meant material gathered by officers in the ‘criminal realm’ could be packaged up and used in civil proceedings to make sure protection was in place for children.

“There are too many people left in a vulnerable place, worried about their children and their long term safety,” he said.

South Yorkshire Police now increasingly promote civil action to protect victims of domestic violence, but at present they have to find the cash to take that legal action forward and the staff time to do so.

Across the country, chief constables are now increasingly wanting the Ministry of Justice to change the rules so police can operate without having to bear those financial burdens.

A SECONDARY school has embraced the meaning of Christmas by collecting donations for hampers that will be donated to charities over the festive season. 

Horizon Community College, Dodworth Road, collects donations each year to make hampers which are donated to Age UK. This year, they decided to collect donations for Barnsley Churches Drop-in Project (BCDP) and the domestic abuse charity IDAS Barnsley. 

“Every year since the school became Horizon we have run a hamper collection,” said Lucy Kenyon, events manager at the school. “Students bring in donations of food, toiletries, small items of clothing and we fill the hampers and send them out to people who may not get anything or see anyone at Christmas. 

“This year we decided to expand the project to include more charities to help more people.” 

As well as collecting donations for the hampers, donations were also sought for the 17 children living at a refuge run by IDAS, so that they would have something to open on Christmas day. 

“I am really happy that each of the 17 children will receive a present on Christmas day and that we can help in some way. 

“I really want to encourage the students to give back at Christmas and I think this is a perfect way to do that.”

The students collected enough donations to fill 141 hampers, 110 will be donated to Age UK, 20 to BCDP, 11 to IDAS alongside the 17 presents for the children at the refuge. 

BARNSLEY Youth Choir has been shortlisted for a special award recognising the positive impact it makes in the local community.

The youth group has been nominated for the Avant Homes ‘Let’s Make a Difference’ award for the huge contribution it makes to supporting communities that need it most.

The awards are open to anyone living in Scotland, north east England, Yorkshire and the Midlands with more than 250 people put forward in the nomination stage.

Barnsley Youth Choir has impacted hundreds of children in the ten years since it was founded, by seeking to provide opportunities for young people who live in Barnsley.

Yvonne Worsley, Barnsley Youth Choir trustee and chairman said: “We are really thrilled to be shortlisted for the Let’s Make a Difference Awards.

“Barnsley Youth Choir strives to make a difference to the lives of so many young people but would be unable to do this without the support of our community. 

“The £1,000 cash prize would be so appreciated and enable us to provide outstanding opportunities which will change the lives of young people forever. 

“We would like to thank everyone who votes for Barnsley Youth Choir we really appreciate your support.”

Voting is now open, and members of the public are invited to choose the person, project or organisation that they believe makes the biggest difference within the community.

Winners will receive a £1,000 cash prize and an invitation to a special event with Avant Homes and its brand ambassador and TV personality, Gabby Logan.

To vote visit letsmakeadifferenceawards.co.uk.

Voting closes today and winners will be announced on January 24.

GP APPOINTMENTS will be available for over Christmas and New Year as i-HEART Barnsley will offer appointments on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day at sites across the borough. 

Some pharmacies will also be open on these days. 

On Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, phone lines for appointments (242419) will be open from 8am to 9.30am for appointments between 10am and 2pm. 

Outside of these hours, people needing advice should call NHS 111.

Pharmacists can offer expert clinical advice for minor health concerns such as sore throats, coughs, colds, upset stomach and teething.

On Christmas Day, Silkstone Pharmacy is open from 10am to 2pm. On Boxing Day, Asda Pharmacy is open from 9am to 6pm on Old Mill Lane. Boots Pharmacy in Boots, Cheapside is open from 9am to 4pm. 

On New Year’s Day, the Asda Pharmacy will be open from 10am to 5pm.

People are asked to remember to stock up on medicines and collect prescriptions in good time. 

A WOMAN has shaved her hair to raise money for charity.

Joanna Beck, manager at McColls on Doncaster Road, Ardsley, shaved off her locks to raise money for McColl’s house, based opposite Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, who accommodate parents who have a seriously ill child being treated at the hospital.

McColls formed a charity partnership with the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity and aims to raise £1m over the next three years and refurbish the house.

Joanna, who has worked for McColl’s for more than 19 years, decided to play her part in raising funds towards the company’s target.

She said: “I decided just over a week ago to shave my hair after hearing about the fantastic work Great Ormond Street Hospital do for children and the accommodation they provide for parents which is great for those who need it.”

So far, Joanna has raised £240 but has a target of £1,000.

To donate, click here

NETWORK Rail is advising drivers in Wombwell that Hough Lane bridge will close in the New Year as work will take place to replace it.

From Monday, January 6, the bridge over the railway will be closed to allow utilities such as gas, electricity and water to be removed from the bridge ahead of it being demolished and reconstructed. 

To allow this work to take place safely, the road will remain closed until the end of the project in June 2020.

During this time, a clearly sign-posted diversion for motorists will be in place. Pedestrian access will be maintained for the majority of the closure via a temporary footbridge. 

A spokesman from Network Rail said: “Network Rail is working closely with Barnsley Council to keep disruption to a minimum.

“Hough Lane bridge was built in 1895 and the original bridge deck from this time is still in place. This now needs completely replacing and the new bridge will be stronger, as well as being wider, which will allow the pavements to be wider, improving the bridge for pedestrians.

“Network Rail would like to thank all those impacted for their patience whilst this vital work takes place.”

POLICE ‘stop and search’ checks on the streets of South Yorkshire have increased by 400 per cent on historic levels as the force increases pressure on gangs and drug dealing suspects.

A figure of more than 300 searches conducted in Barnsley during October would have been the total expected for the whole of South Yorkshire only two years ago, said Chief Constable Stephen Watson.

In fact, the force-wide figure was 1,844 – reflecting national guidance to abandon a previous government imposed crackdown on numbers of searches conducted.

Despite the surge in numbers of searches, the ‘success’ rate where officers found something suspicious, remained at around 20 per cent, which is regarded as acceptable.

Mr Watson said more of those subjected to stop and search checks were now being filmed because the officers involved wore body-cams, with those involved shown to be ‘highly professional’ in their work.

He said: “We are seeing stop and search going up dramatically. October 2019 was the highest in Barnsley. Two years ago that would have represented the whole of South Yorkshire.”

Numbers of arrests have also been increasing, with officers now taking 27 per cent more prisoners than they would have done a year ago, an increase of around 100 people per week.

“That is why crime is falling,” he said. “Our people are proactively on the front foot. I know this is what the public expect to see.”

Details of the stop and search numbers were presented to South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings, at a meeting of his Public Accountability Board, where the Chief Constable and his force are held to account.

An independent ethics panel, which reports to the PCC, monitors performance and statistics around stop and search, which has proved a controversial tactic in the past because of the way some districts and their communities have borne the brunt of checks.

However its chairman, Andrew Lockley, told the board the panel had been ‘most impressed’ by the way the ‘successful outcomes figure has been maintained’. 

After being discouraged by the government in the early years of the decade, the value of stop and search – partly as a crime prevention tactic – were recognised as knife and violent crime began to increase.

• Provided by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. 

WITH Christmas around the corner, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) is reminding customers to plan ahead for their travel during the festive period in Barnsley.

From Friday, December 27 until Monday, December 30, buses will follow a Saturday service, apart from Sunday, December 29, when they will operate a Sunday timetable. Train services will run as normal after a late start on Friday.

On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, buses will run a Saturday service, with last departures between 5.30pm and 7.30pm, whereas trains will run a normal service.

“Most local bus, tram and train services will follow Saturday timetables with an early finish, but, as usual, there will be no bus or train services on Christmas Day or Boxing Day in Barnsley,” said  SYPTE’s director of customer services Tim Taylor.

There will be no bus services on New Year’s Day, but they will follow a Saturday timetable with some exceptions on Thursday, January 2 and Friday, January 3, resuming normal service on Saturday, January 4.

Trains will resume normal timetables on New Year’s Day, after a late start.

“Trains are expected to be busier than usual and customers are encouraged to check with National Rail or their operating company for any planned engineering works or local service updates,” added Tim.

“Customers can register with Travel South Yorkshire to receive a free email alert whenever there are changes to public transport services.”

From Boxing Day until New Year’s Day, holders of SYPTE-issued English National Concessionary Travel Scheme Senior Passes can travel for free on bus and tram, and for half fare on Northern Rail services within South Yorkshire, without restrictions from the start to end of service.

People can register for timetable updates by visiting travelsouthyorkshire.com/gettimetables.

A TAXI rank in Barnsley town centre will be relocated from January 6, it has been announced.

The facility, on Midland Street, will move to Eldon Street to allow for work to be carried out on the Superbowl UK site in The Glass Works.

From January 20, both Kendray Street and Midland Street will become limited access. 

Entry will be restricted to construction vehicles and vehicles used to access businesses within the immediate vicinity. 

All 18 taxi rank spaces will be removed and Midland Street will also become a two-way road.

A FAMILY have been left devastated after a 24-year-old man collapsed and died in Slovakia where he had been working as a teacher.

Logan Porter, of Worsbrough Common, was found collapsed on Saturday at his home in Bratislava, where he taught history at an American academy.

Paramedics were called and tried for 30 minutes to resuscitate him, but nothing more could be done to save him.

Logan graduated from York St John University in 2017. He went on to study a masters in social history at Leeds Beckett University before obtaining a PGCE in secondary history at Sheffield Hallam University.

He moved to Bratislava in August and was planning to teach there for two years.

Logan’s sister, Camilla Porter, 29, told the Chronicle that he was the brains of the family and a passionate teacher.

“He knew so much about history and a lot of it went over my head when he tried to explain something to me,” she said.

“He would take the mick out of me for that. He also had a dry sense of humour but he was a fantastic brother and uncle to my son Addison Connelly, who is seven.

“He took his role as an uncle very seriously and those two were best friends. If we went to see my mum he’d be straight upstairs, knock on Logan’s bedroom door and they’d be playing and laughing on the Xbox and ordering Domino’s pizza. He definitely spoilt

Addison more than me. They idolised each other and were best friends.

“Logan had taught history in Barnsley but he wasn’t enjoying it because he felt he was putting more effort into behaviour management than teaching. 

“The American Academy opened this year and it was like everything had fallen into place for him.

“He could not speak any more highly of the school, the principal and the students.

“He was happy and he fully immersed himself into the culture, began learning the language and took students to visit historical landmarks. He was in his element teaching a subject he loved.

“Before each lesson began he would always ask his students to air their grievances so they could focus on learning. Since his death we have had parents contact us speaking so highly of him and the academy can’t do enough for us. It’s been so humbling to hear so many positive things about him but it’s also bittersweet.”

Following his death, his mum Karina Porter and her partner Steven Marsh travelled to Bratislava yesterday, to arrange to bring his body back to Barnsley.

Camilla has set up a Go Fund Me page to help with the repatriation and funeral which can cost anything up to £10,000. So far, they have raised more than £6,000.

She said: “When I called the academy and they told me he had died I didn’t believe them at first. It was a very surreal thing to hear. He was fit and healthy and went to the gym so this has come as a complete shock. We are working hard to cover the costs and we are so overwhelmed and grateful to everyone who is helping us at this time.”

His girlfriend, Nardine Michaelis, 24, paid tribute to her boyfriend of three years. She said: “I met Logan when I was studying at the University of York and it was love at first sight.

“He had a really big heart and he helped me to be strong and be positive. Although it was hard to see him move to Slovakia for work, it was amazing to see how happy he was as he was so passionate about teaching history.

“He didn’t want to be away from me but the job made him happy and seeing him so happy made the distance worth it.

“He was my whole future and I will miss him dearly.”

To donate, click here

FIREFIGHTERS were called to a ‘deliberate’ pigeon coop fire in Lundwood on Sunday. 

A crew from Cudworth arrived at the scene on Lang Avenue at 5.45pm. 

The owner had opened the coop and all birds were released.

Firefighters fought the blaze for 35 minutes and believe the fire was started deliberately. 

ELDERLY Barnsley residents at risk of isolation are being targeted through a pilot project which is aiming to reduce growing cases of loneliness among pensioners.

Latest figures revealed by the North East Area Council - responsible for villages including Brierley, Carlton, Cudworth, Great Houghton, Grimethorpe, Monk Bretton, Royston and Shafton - shows a current estimated population of about 48,200.

More than 11,600 residents are over the age of 60, accounting for 24.2 per cent of its overall population, and councillors in the area commissioned a service - which could be rolled out across the borough - to target those deemed to be at risk of isolation.

Two officers Carol Foster and Sarah Hulme are now responsible for signposting people in the direction of the area council-commissioned activities for elderly residents, as well as 11 volunteers across the district.

A report said: “The service has supported 34 socially isolated older people over the quarter from April to July and of these 15 are new referrals.

“Others are for more in-depth work including help to get out to the shops, referral to psychological services and help to access group activities within the community.

“Base measurements of well-being and loneliness scales have been taken and in the next quarter we will start seeing results of the effectiveness of interventions coming through.”

The team has also started delivering events in care homes including Burntwood Hall, Belle Green Court, Cherry Trees and Oakwood Grange.

The report added: “The North East Area Council has the second highest prevalence of dementia, at 0.81 per cent of the population, in Barnsley. There are 11,681 residents over 60 according to the population estimates.

“It is well documented that an increasing older population brings with it key challenges for an area in terms of the likely demand on services such as health and social care.

“There is growing evidence that many of the factors that underpin well-being and increase resilience are largely social, not medical.

“An audit of the communities in the area council, conducted by Age UK in 2018, concluded that information about what is available needs updating and making more accessible.

“Short and long-term solutions are needed. All the communities in the North East Area Council’s four wards are different, and therefore have different needs.”

According to the audit, the wider area - which estimates Barnsley’s current population to be about 243,000, including 61,000 over the age of 60 - has ‘many isolated people for complex reasons’ and it’s why Barnsley’s five other area councils could opt to replicate the service next year.

Coun Charlie Wraith, who represents the Cudworth ward, added: “The area council has identified health and well-being as one of its main priorities as we recognise that reducing loneliness and isolation can reduce the need for more acute care.

“Filling gaps in services and activities that will encourage dementia-friendly communities, and reduce loneliness and isolation, will help to support elderly and vulnerable older people.

“I really do hope this pilot project can be rolled out across Barnsley as there’s a clear need.”

A BARNSLEY man who ‘hoodwinked’ those closest to him into believing he was a successful investment banker then fleeced his elderly grandmother out of her life savings to fund lavish holidays and expensive cars has been jailed for four years.

Christopher Moulson, of Wakefield Road, appeared at Leeds Crown Court for sentencing on Wednesday, having changed his plea to guilty on the first day of his trial.

The 32-year-old initially denied three offences of theft, relating to his grandmother Gwenda Day and two of his closest friends, Henry Bower and Chris Matthewman.

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC was told that Moulson claimed he was employed as an investment banker specialising in wealth management for Morgan Stanley, but was actually unemployed having left his job as a customer service assistant with NatWest.

Moulson, originally from Penistone, stole £60,371 from his widowed grandmother who was left struggling to pay for food and in debt because of his actions as well as £10,000 each from Mr Bower and Mr Matthewman, who were told that he could use his influence to make their plans to create a civil engineering firm a reality.

Prosecutor Richard Davies said: “Gwenda, like all of his family including his wife, believed he worked for Morgan Stanley.

“He transferred her life savings to his own account, using it to fund holidays and the leasing of cars such as a BMW and a Mercedes.

“His two other victims, who were his oldest friends from school, also fell for the facade.

“The defendant told them that if they invested £10,000 each, he would put in £100,000 of his own money which he said had come from a £500,000 bonus from Morgan Stanley.”

This cash injection, he told them, would be doubled to provide a total of £240,000 through a business loan, allowing them to pursue the business idea.

“His friends who said they trusted him implicitly borrowed cash from grandparents and parents, but they received a fake letter purporting to be from Morgan Stanley offering them much less than he promised them.

“They wanted to pull out of the deal, but were fobbed off by the defendant who told them he had cancer.”

When the police arrested Moulson on November 28, 2016, they received confirmation that he had never been employed by Morgan Stanley and he refused to provide medical records which would have confirmed his illness.

Both Mr Bower and Mr Matthewman recovered their money at an earlier court hearing, while another will be held in Leeds on April 21 in relation to recouping what his 78-year-old grandmother is owed under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

A victim impact statement, from Gwenda, said: “I couldn’t afford to buy food - I’ve questioned my own sanity and I’m embarrassed and reclusive, having once led an active social life.

“I was comfortable but I’m now in considerable debt. I’ve been badly let down and he (Moulson) has abused my trust.”

Before sentencing, Judge Marson was told that Moulson had graduated from university but was not happy with ‘only being in customer services’ as he deemed it an ‘unimportant role’.

Judge Marson said: “I can’t envisage a worse case as you’ve been cruel and dishonest to not only your friends but your grandmother, someone who you should have loved and respected.

“She was left comfortable, left to enjoy the rest of her life without any financial worries. You stole this from her, your own grandmother.

“Your crimes were sophisticated and planned, dishonest from the start, weaving a web of lies. It’s uncommon, even in these courts, to hear this level of deceit.

“You had a devastating, profound effect and I believe that the guilt you claim you now feel is because of the predicament you’re in.”

A BARBER shop was forced to close after its windows were smashed.

Police were called to Eldon Street on Tuesday at 4.30pm following reports that a man was causing criminal damage.

The Barbers Shop window was smashed and closed while investigations were carried out along the Eldon Arcade.

The 31-year-old man was detained and taken to Barnsley Hospital for treatment for minor injuries.

SANTA will be riding his sleigh around Barnsley to raise money for charity and delivering toys.

Members of Chloe's Crust Bikers and Riders Group have been collecting toy donations across the borough for the Tiny Heart Appeal, a campaign launched by the Barnsley Hospital Charity in 2014 to raise £1m to build a brand new Neonatal Unit.

The unit opened last year, and funds are still being collected to buy up-to-date equipment to support premature babies born at Barnsley Hospital.

From 7pm tonight, Santa's sleigh will be travelling through Barnsley. 

They will leave Chloe's cafe on Laithes Lane at 7pm, before heading onto Wakefield Road, Eldon Street, Shambles Street, Town End roundabout, Peel Street, Pitt Street, Blutcher Street, Westway, Alhambra roundabout, back onto Westway, Summer Lane and finishing at Barnsley Hospital.

BARNSLEY Council is reminding all residents to check their bin days to make sure they are prepared for changes over the Christmas period.

Bins that are scheduled to be collected on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day will be rescheduled. Changes to collections on these dates will be on residents’ current bin calendars and can also be viewed online.

The council is asking residents to check their calendars at least two weeks before their scheduled collection so that they do not miss their changed day.

Matt Gladstone, executive director for place, said: “We would like to thank residents who have committed to recycling to help make Barnsley a great place to live over the past year. We understand how celebrations at this time of year can create more waste than usual. To help keep the borough clean and green we’re encouraging residents to carry on recycling where possible and be mindful of their waste.

“Our household waste and recycling sites based throughout the borough will also be open as normal over the festive period (apart from Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day) for any additional waste or recycling.”

For further information, click here

ALMOST 200 people were fined by enforcement officers employed by the North East Area Council between July and September, latest figures have revealed.

District Enforcement, employed on a rolling contract by the area which is responsible for Cudworth, Monk Bretton, North East and Royston wards, handed out 130 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for littering, 26 for dog fouling and 27 for illegal parking.

The revenue raised from FPNs for the last quarter is £7,825 and the year-to-date figure is £15,405.

However, officers - in their quarterly progress report - have said there’s a ‘growing concern’ with the amount of offenders who refuse to give their details, with a 63 per cent increase on the previous quarter’s results.

The report also reveals three areas in Cudworth - Robert Street, Carlton Street and Bank Street - have received increased patrols due to residents’ complaints about motorists parking on double yellow lines and the high amount of litter in the car park at the back of Barnsley Road’s shops.

“The bulk of complaints were regarding litter being thrown by the drivers parking in the car park, or for people recklessly parking on all three streets which all have double yellow lines,” the report added.

“Over the quarter all District officers have patrolled the area at various days and times and have managed to identify offenders and issue 16 FPNs to adults, and juveniles, depositing litter and also 22 parking notices to motorists on double yellow lines.

“Our officers have also renewed the stickers and signage in the area. The feedback has been good and our officers will continue their patrols in this area.”

Coun Charlie Wraith has appealed to motorists in the past to stop parking on the streets, as there are several free car parks in the area, while a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to motorists parking on double yellow lines will continue to be taken.

Coun Wraith said: “There’s so much free parking in Cudworth, but these idiots will still park on yellow lines and the figures suggest they’re not being put off by enforcement officers patrolling there.

“It’s not only lazy, it’s dangerous and there’s no need for them to do it as there’s ample parking.

“Hopefully the patrols will continue and we’ll carry on fighting against these illegal parkers.”

Coun Joe Hayward added: “There’s been past accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians on Barnsley Road and its side streets are very dangerous due to parked cars.

“We have been very lucky not to have had a fatality.”

RAIL passengers will be facing disruptions this afternoon.

Passengers traveling between Sheffield and Barnsley will have to wait until at least 3.45pm for a train from Sheffield to Barnsley as the 3.18pm and 3.35pm services have been cancelled.

For further information on the next available train, visit the National Rail website for live updates.

WE'VE received several Animal Crackers donations so far but you only have until Friday to help us make christmas for our furry friends...

Not sure what Animal Crackers is? Here’s what we’re doing...

We want to collect food, toys and accessories for the animals that need them the most - and we’ll be splitting the donations between local animal charities who work tirelessly to provide care to our furry friends.

Our chosen charities this year are as follows:

• Barnsley and District Animal Welfare
• Barnsley RSPCA
• Royston Animal Welfare
• Barnsley Animal Rescue Charity
• RADAR Dog Rescue
• Willow Dog Rescue

We’ve teamed up with local businesses to act as drop-off points, where you can leave your donations for our furry friends.

All you have to do is take your donation into the drop off point and we’ll do the rest.

The drop-off points are as follows:

• Barnsley Chronicle Front Counter, 47 Church Street, S70 2AS
• Mapplewell and Staincross Village Hall, Darton Lane, S75 6AL
• Walkers Newsagents, High Street, Hoyland, S36 6BZ
• Andy’s News, Barnsley Road, Goldthorpe, S74 9AB
• Cookes Pet Supplies, Wakefield Road, Barnsley, S72 8JN
• Co-op, Barnsley Rd, Cudworth, Barnsley S72 8JJ
• Budgens, Pogmoor Road, S75 2EE
• Budgens, Barnsley Road, Dodworth, S75 3JR

We are after the following:

• Toys
• Leads
• Coats
• Collars
• Treats
• Food
• New Blankets
• New Throws
• New Beds

(Please note charities cannot accepts Duvets)

We’ve been running the campaign for the last three years and we’ve donated thousands of pounds worth of goodies. We want to beat what we collected last year and do even more this year.

Let’s show Barnsley’s animals how much we care!

We will be collecting donations until Friday December 20

BOTH Barnsley Central and Barnsley East have been retained by Labour's Dan Jarvis and Stephanie Peacock. 

However on a bad night for Labour nationally, their majorities have been significantly reduced. 

Dan Jarvis's majority has been slashed by almost 12,000 to 3,571, having been 15,546 at the last election. 

Stephanie Peacock lost more than 10,000 voters since the last election, with a majority of 3,217. It had been 13,283.  

Penistone and Stocksbridge may well be among one of dozens of Labour seats which are expected to be lost to the governing Conservative party. 

Nationally, exit poll information predicts a sizeable Conservative majority, with the Labour Party losing as many as 71 of the seats it won in 2017. 

Mr Jarvis said: “I’m proud to have been re-elected. Clearly it’s been a difficult night for the Labour Party and we’re still processing the scale of the defeat but I am delighted that I’ve been re-elected along with Stephanie Peacock. 

“This is a campaign the likes of which we have not seen before. 

“It has been fought through the winter months, it has been fought predominantly on the issue of Brexit which has been a very challenging issue for the Labour Party and Barnsley where people voted overwhelmingly for leave. 

“I’m delighted I’ve been re-elected and I look forward to serving my constituency in this next parliament.”

Stephanie Peacock said: "Too many people have told me they feel ignored, forgotten and abandoned. 

"Rest assured, I have heard you all. It is not a good night for my party. The Labour Party was formed to fight for working people and I will now do everything I can to make sure it returns to doing just that. 

"I will continue to stand up and fight in Westminster where I will always put Barnsley East first."

Results: 

BARNSLEY CENTRAL
Dan Jarvis, Labour, 14,804 - 40.1%
Victoria Felton, Brexit Party, 11,233 - 30.4% 
Iftikhar Ahmed, Conservative, 7,892 - 21.4% 
Will Sapwell, Liberal Democrat, 1,176 - 3.2% 
Tom Heyes, Green, 900 - 2.4% 
Ryan Williams, Yorkshire Party, 710 - 1.9% 
Donald Wood, independent, 188 - 0.5%

BARNSLEY EAST
Stephanie Peacock, Labour, 14,329 - 37.6%
Jim Ferguson, Brexit Party, 11,112 - 29.2%
Adam Fenton, Conservative, 10,377 - 27.3%
Sophie Thornton, Liberal Democrat, 1,330 - 3.5%
Richard Trotman, Green, 922 - 2.4%

PENISTONE AND STOCKSBRIDGE
John Booker, Brexit Party, 
Miriam Cates, Conservative, 
Francyne Johnson, Labour, 
Hannah Kitching, Liberal Democrat, 

WENTWORTH AND DEARNE
Emily Barley, Conservative, 
David Bettney, Social Democratic Party, 
Lucy Brown, Yorkshire Party, 
Stephen Cavell, Brexit Party, 
John Healey, Labour, 
Janice Middleton, Liberal Democrat,

Turnout figures were 56 per cent for Barnsley Central and for 55 per cent for Barnsley East.

• If anyone has any information, please call 101 quoting incident number 463 of November 23.

• To report antisocial behaviour or crime, call 101 or 999 in an emergency. You can also report incidents by emailing safer@barnsley.gov.uk.

OFFICERS are continuing their search for a missing man who has not been seen for almost a month. 

 

Richard Dyson, 55, was last seen on November 17 on Sheffield Road, Hoyland heading towards Parkside Cottage. He was reported missing by his daughter on November 25 after he failed to get in contact with her as usual. 

Richard is described as 5ft 10 - 6ft tall with short grey hair and was last seen wearing a navy Kappa jacket with white stitching.

Superintendent Mark James, who is leading the investigation, said: “The searches being carried out  will focus on farm land in the Elsecar area of Barnsley. Richard works in this area regularly and this is the last place he was seen, on Saturday 16 November.

 

“Our enquiries continue at pace, and if anyone has any information, no matter how small, I urge you to come forward and tell us what you know. Richard’s family members are extremely concerned and just want to know he is safe and well.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 quoting incident numebr 459 of November 25.