ONE HUNDRED thousand people simply cannot all be wrong.
That is how many people dialled the 101 police number during the service's first 18 months of operation in South Yorkshire.
It gives people chance to report non-emergency incidents, such as anti-social behaviour, criminal damage or abandoned vehic
les, and leaves the 999 service open for people who are in more desperate need of help.
Everyone benefits: the public feel they are not isolated and forgotten, while the police are helped in filtering out non-urgent incidents, allowing them to concentrate on priorities.
That is why we are delighted that it has been thrown a lifeline in Sheffield and that there are hopes to keep the service operating in the long term.
It is not only a useful service, but it is also one which the public clearly value and put to good use.
That is also why we believe the public in Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster will be disappointed that their councils have ruled that they will not support the scheme in their areas, presumably on cost grounds.
This service gives a quick and sensible connection to the police without getting in the way of life and death situations. Surely that is worth the price.
It's time to break down the barriersTHE campaign to oppose plans to introduce a ticket barrier at Sheffield railway station, thereby blocking off a much appreciated thoroughfare linking residential areas with the city centre, has been given more much needed support.
The idea is unacceptable, not least because it puts the commercial interests of rail operators before the convenience of the public of Sheffield.
A number of high ranking Labour politicians have now come out in opposition to the proposal and we are certain their involvement will be welcomed by people whose lives would be interrupted by the proposal.
Surely this ought to be the kind of issue where all political parties should be joining forces to present a strong and united front of opposition.
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FeaturesMore Rotherham newsMore Doncaster newsMore Barnsley newsCheck out the very latest on South Yorkshire's roads - including live traffic cameras on Sheffield's commuter routes - with our Traffic sectionLatest sport.The full article contains 385 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
