Most people feel safe in Sheffield city centre, according to poll

Of the 1,574 respondents to the poll – which was carried out by Star reporter Michael Broomhead on Twitter – 44 per cent of people said they do feel safe in the city centre.

The results also showed 37.7 per cent of people don’t feel safe there while 13 per cent aren’t sure and 5.4 per cent said they don’t care.

In response to the poll, Twitter user @mojitopowell said: “I thinks Sheffield is the same as any city these days – you need to be aware of your actions and surroundings, but relatively it’s safe for most people.”

@superspire said: “I work in Sheffield and I’ve never seen any problems.”

However, a number of people raised concerns about various issues in the city centre including knife crime, street drinking, drug abuse and begging.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “As a city centre neighbourhood team we have a fantastic relationship with the local authority and lots of other partners and organisations.

“Making sure our city centre continues to be a safe and vibrant place requires a multi-agency approach and we work hard to maintain that.

“Like many cities across the UK, there are challenges when it comes to policing a city centre; these include anti-social behaviour, issues around so-called street culture and supporting those who are homeless or sleeping rough.

“We use a combination of enforcement and engagement to tackle these issues in Sheffield. We carry out proactive patrols throughout the city centre on a daily basis, using a range of powers including stop and search, and criminal behaviour orders as a deterrent for those intent on committing crimes.

“In recent months we have also developed some innovative new operations which have a focus on the night-time economy. Operation Sidewinder, a proactive drugs operation, has had some great results in tackling those involved in drug supply in the city and has gained the support of local venues.

“We also encourage residents or businesses to report issues to us – this helps us build up a picture of demand and we can then tailor our response effectively.”