Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner has welcomed the Effectiveness report into South Yorkshire Police by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Service.

Dr Billings said: “It is very encouraging  for South Yorkshire Police and further evidence that the police are moving in the right direction under the new leadership.

“They are coming from a position of ‘requires improvement’ to one of ‘good’. That is being achieved through a combination of good leadership with clear focus and a great deal of hard work by officers and staff.

“The restoration of neighbourhood policing has clearly been crucial in this improvement, and the work the force is doing in understanding the demands for service that come upon them.

“The report does, however, speak of the need to do more for vulnerable people and that is one of the three priorities in my Police and Crime Plan. I shall, therefore, be paying particular attention to that in the coming year.”