Exclusive:Page Hall terraced houses crammed with 10-15 people where disorder breaks out on Sheffield streets, say cops
“A significant challenge for the Page Hall policing teams is large scale disorder”
A police sergeant has shone the spotlight on a troubled Sheffield neighbourhood where large scale disorder breaks out on the streets and terraced homes are crammed with upto 15 people.
The reality of life on the streets of Page Hall, ranked as one of the most deprived area in the UK, was laid bare during a recent court case over a 200-man mass brawl which took place last summer.
Large gatherings of Slovakian residents socialising on street corners in Page Hall too easily escalate into violence and anti-social behaviour, a neighbourhood police officer told Sheffield Crown Court.
The ruckus on June 2, 2025, saw scores of men scrap with sticks, poles and gardening tools after a fight broke out at the Golden Gainz Gym, on Upwell Street.
The feud was rooted in disagreements between two families, each supporting different candidates in a mayoral election in the small Slovakian village of Žehra, with a population 2,500.
“That sort of irresponsible conduct must not be tolerated being extended to this country,” said His Honour Judge Charles Thomas KC in sentencing.
South Yorkshire Police Sergeant Tracy Spratt, part of Page Hall’s neighbourhood policing team, submitted a ‘community impact statement’ to the court detailing how the brawl had affected residents.
It describes what the sergeant calls one of the greatest challenges Page Hall poses to policing - large groups of Slovakian residents gathering on street corners, which too easily escalates into violence and anti-social behaviour.
She described how average terraced two-three bed homes in Page Hall are shockingly overcrowded, with up to 15 family members living under one roof.
The sergeant said: “The Page Hall area that we cover as a team, predominantly has a Roma Slovak community that live in 2 3-bedroom terraced properties, situated amongst a small number of streets.
“These properties are private rented and are mainly occupied by Roma Slovak families, from the Zehra region of Slovakia, which in several cases are overcrowded with an average of 10-15 occupants.
“Page Hall has historically been a high priority area for South Yorkshire Police and other organisations, such as Sheffield City Council, Environmental Services and Social Services, this is due to a range of long term issues consistent with a community from a diverse ethnic background, higher unemployment and poor social mobility.
“The key issues in Page Hall include anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance, particularly in the evenings and weekends from the Slovakian communities who traditionally stand in large groups on street corners as a form of socialising.
“This is driven by cultural norms from their perspective but is a divisive issue among residents from other backgrounds who perceive this as threatening and intimidating.
“A significant challenge for the local policing teams is large scale disorder, which is prevalent amongst this community and a way that they resolve their feuds between other Roma Slovak families or towards people from other communities that they feel have challenged them.
“During disorder, weapons are often used, as they are clearly seeking violence and to injure people.
“This community regularly uses social media, such as TikTok and Facebook Live to alert the community if there is an issue, which results in a significant gathering from several families in an incredibly short timescale, that escalates quickly into violence and disorder.
“This amount of disorder always requires significant police resources and sometimes the disorder can occur intermittently over a few days until the elders of that community meet up and decide that the fighting is over.”
In response, Councillor Mustafa Ahmed, who represents Page Hall for the Green party, said: “The issues raised deserve serious attention, but it's important to distinguish between the actions of individuals and an entire community.
“Overcrowded housing, poverty, and limited opportunities are social and economic challenges that can affect any group and should not be presented as cultural characteristics.
“If some homes in Page Hall have 10–15 residents, this raises legitimate concerns about housing standards, landlord practices, public safety, and pressure on local services. However, these claims should be supported by evidence and not assumed to represent every household.
“A balanced discussion should include the views of residents, community leaders, Sheffield City Council, and South Yorkshire Police. The focus should be on improving housing, tackling crime where it occurs, and strengthening community relations without reinforcing stereotypes about any ethnic or cultural group.”