Live shotgun ammunition and burner phone found in popular Sheffield park

The searches were carried out on The Ponderosa, a park between Upperthorpe and Crookesmoor, as part of a nationwide knife crime initiative.

Known as Operation Sceptre, police officers across the country were involved in a week of action last week aimed at reducing the number of weapons on the streets.

People were stopped and searched on the streets and areas of open land were combed by officers looking for discarded or hidden weapons to avoid them falling into the wrong hands.

Checks of The Ponderosa unearthed live and spent shotgun ammunition as well as what is believed to be a ‘burner’ phone and sim card.

Burner phones are cheap mobiles not registered to any specific user and used by criminals for a short period of time before being discarded to make it difficult to trace who used them.

South Yorkshire Police said the Ponderosa discoveries were among a number of ‘significant items’ found.

The Sheffield North West neighbourhood policing team said: “We found a 'burner' phone with a sim card and recovered spent and live shotgun ammunition, which has been recovered for forensic evaluation.

“It’s not that common to find such things, so please don't worry unduly.

“Our communities have been excellent in guiding us where to search and we have recovered a number of significant items.”

To pass on information to South Yorkshire Police on those involved in gun crime call 101.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

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