South Yorkshire Police have launched a new campaign to reduce knife crime by offering an amnesty to people prepared to hand in their blades. Knife crime in South Yorkshire is up by almost 50 per cent year-on-year with 1,176 incidents to March 2017 compared to 807 incidents in the previous year. The figures include possession of a knife, threat and injury. Police say the number injured from stab wounds has risen steadily in the last five years. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Deaf and hearing impaired students from schools across Sheffield joined artists from the Northern Ballet at City Hall for the day long Teenfest workshop of dancing and drumming. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to organiser Gillian Wilkinson.
Sheffield Chamber of Commerce has given a broad welcome to the decision to bring HS2 to Sheffield’s central train station. Executive director Richard Wright told Sheffield Live! that it was vital that HS2 be integrated with the existing rail network and Transport for the North, originally called HS3. Baillor Jalloh reports.
Arts charity Ignite Imaginations have launched a new initiative working with Age UK to seek out hidden creative talent in the older generations. Starting with a pilot project in Burngreave the charity hopes to roll out the concept to other parts of the city. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to project developer Helen Moyes.
Lib Dem group leader on Sheffield Council, Shaffaq Mohammed, confirmed cross party support in Sheffield for the just announced HS2 route via Sheffield’s central train station. The high speed route will offer twice hourly journeys from central Sheffield to London. The news has been broadly welcomed by businesses and the public but there are some that oppose the decision with houses set to be lost in the process. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
Campaigners have welcome Sheffield Council’s decision to suspend a temporary injunction preventing protestors taking direct action to stop tree felling. A hearing was held in Leeds on Monday with the council seeking a high court injunction to prevent protesters in Sheffield from campaigning at locations where contractors are at work. The injunction will now be suspended pending a full three day civil trial scheduled for 26-28 July. In the meantime no further letters threatening injunction are to be sent out to tree protestors. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed, spoke to tree campaigner and Green Party councillor Douglas Johnson.
Streets Ahead contractor Amey have announced support for Age UK Sheffield as their chosen charity of the year. Staff working on the Streets Ahead city-wide highways maintenance contract that is upgrading the condition of our city’s roads, pavements, street lights, bridges and other street items will dedicate a day of their time to the charity, helping the elderly get more out of life. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Steve Chu, chief executive of Age UK Sheffield, and Darren Butt, accounts director for Amey.
Sheffield Council plans to introduce a twenty mile speed limit in the city centre as part of the cities renovation programme. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed asked members of the public for their views.
Government has announced that Sheffield city centre train station has been approved for connection to the high-speed rail route HS2. The route will provide two trains an hour between Sheffield and London. The decision has been welcomed local businesses and politicians. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Police executed a number of drug warrants across the city as part of Operation Duxford to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. Thirteen people were arrested in suspicion of drug offences, theft, breach of bail and immigration offences. Baillor Jalloh spoke to chief constable Stephen Watson of South Yorkshire Police.