Local intel leads to crackdown on drug supply in Barnsley
Police in Barnsley have been cracking down on drug supply in the area, using intelligence submitted by local residents to stop these criminals.
The supply of drugs has been raised as a concern in the area by residents, with Police also noticing a pattern of suspected drug dealers coming into the force area from West Yorkshire, using the movement between the two county lines to hid their activity.
Work was quickly started on how this drug supply could be stopped. Officers knew that they need to work closely with members of the local communities to build information and intelligence pictures around the movements of these suspected dealers, especially which vehicles they used.
Barnsley North East NPT Sergeant Richard Wilson, explains more:
"We can't do what we do without the support from our residents. Our officers can't be everywhere at once, and so they quickly started working with members of the public to gather a wider picture of how these criminals moved around."
Work in the area ramped up in October last year, acting on the intelligence profile which was built over the year. From October 2024 until July 2025, the Barnsley North East NPT have had a total of 35 possession with intent to supply investigations, with many of these already securing charges and going through the courts.
Sgt Wilson continues:
"Most of these investigations have come from successful stop and searches of vehicles.
"We had information shared to us by members of the community around what cars were being used to transport drugs around the area, as well as what routes they would use and what times they would travel.
"It quickly became apparent that many of the vehicles we were stopping were travelling either from or to the West Yorkshire area, taking advantage of the border between the two counties and coming over to South Yorkshire to deal drugs."
In December 2024, two NPT officers stopped a vehicle acting suspiciously and when they approached the vehicle they noticed that the driver tried to hid something under a seat. Upon a search, a large quantity of suspected cocaine and heroin were located. The driver was subsequently charged and is awaiting sentencing.
In March 2025, NPT officers stopped a vehicle believe to be used in the supply of drugs. Upon a search, the two occupants were found to have around £7,000 worth of suspected Class A drugs in their possession. The two men have been charged for multiple drug offences and are currently going through the courts.
Sgt Wilson adds:
“By persistently targeting a drug line we effectively remove those at the lower end of the supply chain which has the effect of forcing those with more control to run the lines themselves. This puts those higher up the chain at risk and provides an opportunity to target those causing most harm.”
"As well as disruption, we also focus on victim safeguarding as quite a lot of time we encounter possible victims of modern day slavery.
"We work closely with social care and the forces Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit when we do encounter these potential victims to ensure they have support and advice should they wish to use it."