Police confirm there are NINETEEN known organised crime gangs operating in Sheffield

But South Yorkshire Police has warned the number is ‘likely to grow’ as the force continues to crackdown on County Lines gangs and identifies more criminals expanding their drug supply networks by branching out into other parts of the country.

A report on crime gangs in the city, prepared by Sheffield’s Temporary District Commander, Chief Superintendent Shelley Hemsley, states that since September 2020 almost 90 organised crime group members and associates have been arrested, 43 search warrants have been executed and four firearms and 10 knives have been recovered.

Almost £50,000 in cash has been seized along with large amounts of cannabis, crack cocaine, cocaine and heroin.

Operation Fortify is South Yorkshire Police's dedicated response to organised crime, with teams regularly carrying out raids.

Chf Supt Hemsley said: “There are currently 19 mapped OCGs operating within Sheffield. This number is likely to grow as more organised hierarchical groups are identified and mapped and we continue to target emerging County Lines gangs.

“The preceding months have seen some challenges in relation to gang-related violence and the use of firearms despite the restrictions caused by the pandemic.

“Fortify Teams play a key role in managing the majority of OCGs and disrupting the groups’ activities. Since September 2020, almost 90 OCG members and associates have been arrested.

“The teams work closely with the armed crime team in tackling organised criminality in the city and demonstrate patience and tenacity in bringing offenders to justice.”

In the same report, it is revealed that South Yorkshire Police’s specialist armed crime team recovered a dozen guns in a three-month period between July and September as part of investigations into a spate of shootings between rival drug gangs in Sheffield.

The investigations into the gun attacks have resulted in 15 arrests so far.

Chf Supt Hemsley added: “The armed crime team and Fortify teams have made significant gains in disrupting and investigating organised criminality in Sheffield.

“It is important to maintain and strengthen our response, particularly in relation to firearms and weapons enabled criminality, which whilst generally targeted towards rivals, risks public safety and confidence amongst our communities.”

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