Burngreave could be set for new police base as cops tackle drugs and organised crime groups in Sheffield suburb

Police chiefs are considering setting up the community base following a successful scheme in Page Hall, where an empty house on Robey Street is now used by officers and partner agencies as a central hub.

The idea is that police officers based in the heart of the community will be more in tune with local issues and more accessible to residents.

South Yorkshire Police said if approved the new police base in Burngreave would be on the Cawood estate, where drugs and organised crime groups are issues.

In a report for the Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings, the force said: “During recent months progress has also been made in relation to the ‘Community House’ in the Page Hall area of the city.

“As a result of partnership working with Sheffield City Council, the Sheffield North East neighbourhood policing team secured a property on Robey Street, which will be used by the police, local authority, health service and local community groups as a central hub.

“Plans are currently progressing at pace to establish a timetable.

“Discussions are also taking place for a similar base on the Carwood estate, Burngreave, where issues linked to organised crime and drug supply have been reported.”

Gun crime and stabbings have been an issue in Burngreave for a number of years, with a number of murders recorded in the city suburb.

The murder of 16-year-old Jonathan Matondo in October 2007 blew the lid off what was referred to as a ‘postcode gang’ war between the rival S3 and S4 gangs which operated in Burngreave and Pitsmoor at that time.

In the two years before Jonathan's murder, a police dossier revealed 38 incidents involving the gangs had been reported and had led to the recovery of six guns.

Jonathan's murder was one of three involving S3 gang members in the space of a year, with the other two the result of the S3 gang imploding and rival factions forming.

Brett Blake, 23, was stabbed to death on the dance floor of Uniq nightclub on Carver Street in Sheffield city centre in June 2008 after a series for tit-for-tat attacks.

One month later, Tarek Chaiboub, 17, from Wincobank, was shot dead in an attack ordered by a fellow S3 member while behind bars.

The teenager was blamed for passing on information which led to an attack on another S3 member.

Nigel Junior Ramsey, who, was known as 'The General' and ran the younger element of the S3 gang, ordered Tarek's murder from behind bars – instructing his younger brother Denzil Ramsey, his next door neighbour Levan Menzies and friend Michael Chattoo, to carry out the killing.

He was shot at Frenchie's barbers in Spital Street, Burngreave, and his killers were jailed for a total of 110 years.

Anyone with information about incidents in Burngreave should call South Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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