SYP Operational Support

TRAFFIC: Delays around Arena Square in Sheffield

On Thursday 6 August we will be escorting another convoy of three oversized loads into the new Forgemasters site at Sheffield.

The loads will be leaving Immingham docks at 7pm and we expect to be at the M1 Junction 34 Tinsley around 8.30pm to 9pm.

We will be travelling along the A180, to the M180, onto the M18 and the M1.

Due to the width of the loads, we will only allow traffic to pass if safe to do so, therefore you may get stuck in tailbacks.

When we leave the M1 at Tinsley, the convoy will travel along Attercliffe Common towards Arena Square.

Once we reach this point our officers will be stopping traffic in all directions to allow the loads to reverse contraflow onto Broughton Lane as they are too long to make the normal right turn at the roundabout.

Once safe the loads will move off towards Carbrook Street, we will then close this road to allow them to reverse into the site.

The Arena Square closure will cause delays as we need it to be completely clear of all traffic to minimise any risks to the public or other motorists.

Please use another route or set off earlier if you think that this will in anyway affect your journey.

Please give your full attention to our teams if they give out directions asking you to stop or divert.

These manoeuvres should only take us around 15 to 20 minutes, so please be patient while we assist getting the loads safely to the destination. Thank you!

DELAYS – ARENA SQUARE, SHEFFIELD, 9PM, WEDNESDAY 29 JULY

On Wednesday 29 July, we will be escorting a convoy of three oversized loads into the new Forgemasters site at Sheffield.

The loads will be leaving Immingham docks at 7pm and we expect to be at the M1 junction 34 Tinsley at around 8.30 to 9pm. We will be travelling A180 – M180 – M18 – M1.

Due to the width of the loads, we will only allow traffic to pass if safe to do so, therefore you may get stuck in tailbacks.

When we leave the M1 at Tinsley, the convoy will travel along Attercliffe Common towards Arena Square. Once we reach this point our officers will be stopping traffic in all directions to allow the loads to reverse contraflow onto Broughton Lane as they are too long to make the normal right turn at the roundabout. Once safe, the loads will move off towards Carbrook Street, and we will then close this road to allow them to reverse into the site.

The Arena Square closure will cause delays as we need it to be completely clear of all traffic to minimise any risks to the public or other motorists. Please use another route or set off earlier if you think that this will in any way affect your journey.

We are aware of the event that is taking place at the arena.

We often get comments asking why we move these large loads at particular times of the day and on the routes we travel. The escorting of abnormal loads takes months to plan and involves many organisations who all must agree on the route and the timeframe to move.

Other factors also dictate what we do including traffic management, the removal of traffic lights and bollards and planned arrival times to get the items into the site to unload.

This time we are escorting a large overhead crane system. Each load is 50 metres long, 4 metres wide and weighs 120 tonnes, so, our convoy will be almost 180 metres long with all the other vehicles that are involved.

Please give your full attention to our teams if they give out directions asking you to stop or divert. These manoeuvres should only take us around 15 to 20 minutes, so please be patient while we assist getting the loads safely to the destination.

DELAYS – ARENA SQUARE, SHEFFIELD, 9PM (THURSDAY 23 JULY)

On Thursday 23 July we will be escorting a convoy of three oversized loads into the new Forgemasters site at Sheffield.

The loads will be leaving Immingham docks at 7pm and we expect to be at the M1 junction 34 Tinsley around 8.30 to 9pm. The convoy will then travel along Attercliffe Common towards Arena Square.

Once we reach this point, our officers will be stopping traffic in all directions to allow the loads to reverse contraflow onto Broughton Lane as they are too long to make the normal right turn at the roundabout. Once safe, the loads will move off towards Carbrook Street and we will then close this road to allow them to reverse into the site.

The Arena Square closure will cause delays as we need it to be completely clear of all traffic to minimise any risks to the public or other motorists.

Please use another route or set off earlier if you think that this will in any way affect your journey. We are aware of the event that is taking place at the arena.

We often get comments asking why we move these large loads at particular times of the day and on the routes we travel. The escorting of abnormal loads takes months to plan and involves many organisations who all must agree on the route and the timeframe to move. Other factors also dictate what we do including traffic management, the removal of traffic lights and bollards, and planned arrival times to get the items into the site to unload.

This time we are escorting a large overhead crane system. Each load is 50 metres long, four metres wide and weighs 120 tonnes, so, our convoy will be almost 180 metres long with all the other vehicles that are involved.

Please give your full attention to our teams if they give out directions asking you to stop or divert. These manoeuvres should only take us around 15 to 20 minutes, so please be patient while we assist getting the loads safely to the destination.

Welcoming new dogs to the frontline 🐶

We’re ‘paws-itively’ thrilled to welcome two new police dogs to our frontline, with their handlers ready to take the lead in more ways than one.

With skills, instincts, and a wealth of policing experience, the handlers and dogs aren’t just joining the team, they’re bringing a new level of capability.

After being put through their paces at our dog training school, General Purpose Dogs Pip and Odin are already working across South Yorkshire serving their communities. PD Odin detained a fleeing shoplifter in the first of his shifts!

Both dogs are Belgian Malinois and during a 13-week course have been taught how to detain suspects and how to help find missing people and property.

The contribution our dogs bring to the frontline and teams across policing is invaluable, but behind every focused and determined dog is a handler who directs the operation.

Using behavioural insight, searching strategies and calm and tactical decision making, the handlers guide their dog’s movement, and determine how they enter a search area, pick up a scent trail or detain a suspect.

In every deployment, it is a handler’s skill, judgement and the incredible bond and loyal relationship they build with their dog that turns a dog’s natural talents into effective frontline policing.

We wish the handlers and PDs Pip and Odin the best of luck in their careers! Keep following for updates on their progression.

Photographed left to right is PD Odin and PD Pip.

Drunk driver jailed for his selfish actions

On the 22 June, Ardil Iqbal from Sheffield got behind the wheel of a car while under the influence of alcohol, while disqualified from driving and without insurance.

💥 Drink driving is not acceptable. It kills; it’s a fact. These decisions by Iqbal could have led to innocent people losing their lives.

At around 4.40am, roads policing officers on patrol sighted Iqbal driving a black Mercedes at excessive speed along the Sheffield Parkway and narrowly missing a central reservation while swerving across lanes.

After stopping Iqbal, officers quickly noticed he was slurring his words and smelled of alcohol.

Iqbal admitted to consuming an alcoholic drink and was requested to blow into a breathalyser.

He blew 87, with the legal limit being 35. He was taken to custody where he became obstructive refusing to further provide and provided false details.

Further checks on him highlighted he was a disqualified driver and had no insurance.

Iqbal, 35 of Stafford Road was remanded in police custody and sent straight to Sheffield Magistrates’ Court the following day. After pleading guilty he appeared before the same court on 7 July for sentencing.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, disqualified from driving for three years and eight months and ordered to pay £239 in fees.

We’re urging you to help us create safer roads. Have a conversation, raise awareness, spread the zero-tolerance for people losing their lives because of other’s selfish actions, and if you believe someone is drink driving, report it.

PDs Eddie and Chase cooling off 💦

PD Eddie is training in body recovery and PD Chase is a General Purpose Dog, trained in detaining suspects and finding people and property.

Combined with a dog handler's training, their contribution to policing on the frontline is invaluable.

During their rest days, our dogs continue to live at home with their handlers, who ensure they live life to the full!

PDs Eddie and Chase love nothing more than a swim in the Peak District to cool off and reset, ready for their next shifts 💥🐾

Officers’ efforts lead to a new life for neglected dog 🐶

Two dogs have been given a new lease of life after officers stepped in during a 999 call.

Glickle, a Yorkshire Terrier and Squirtle, a Chihuahua are now showcasing how love and care has transformed their life, with their previous owner now disqualified by court from owning dogs.

Last year, on 8 February 2025, officers responded to an emergency in Thorne, Doncaster.

While responding, the welfare of two dogs within the property became apparent to officers and after the emergency had resolved, their efforts turned to getting the dogs veterinary treatment and care.

The dogs were seized, taken into kennel care and fostered by staff and an investigation by our Dog Legislation Team was launched.

With the correct diet, love care and attention the dogs began to thrive, and have both secured new homes to continue their new lives.

The owner of the dogs, 32-year-old Annabella Urijnawrita was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and appeared at Doncaster Magistrates’ Court last week (16 June) and was sentenced to 20 days rehabilitation, disqualified from owning dogs for five years and fined £120. The judge also granted a deprivation order for Glickle and Squirtle, meaning they can continue to thrive in their new homes.

Some of our fi****ms officers who will be receiving a bravery award this week.

Have a read of how they responded to an incident that saved a woman's life.

We're incredibly proud 💙

Four officers who saved a woman’s life after she was hit by a train have won South Yorkshire Police Federation Bravery Awards.

Looking Forward To Our 2026 Awards - on Thursday... and delighted to be revealing our first winners.

On the morning of 12 August 2024, fi****ms officers PC Christopher Bell, PC Ben Hawley (pictured right), PC Carl Holden (pictured left) and a colleague responded to an emergency incident at Doncaster Station, where a woman was critically injured when she was hit by a train.

The officers arrived at the station and were faced with a busy platform of commuters, including several who had watched the horrific incident unfold.

PC Hawley said: “We ran past ambulance and fire services on the platform. I just shouted to Transport: ‘This line off? Are we safe to get down?’. Ultimately there was a lady under the train and she was still alive. So we've got to get on to that and deal with it.”

Working as a team, the officers climbed down onto the track with first aid equipment. PC Holden, PC Bell and PC Hawley all assisted in applying tourniquets to the woman's legs - luckily, fi****ms officers receive advanced training in techniques such as using tourniquets.

PC Bell, PC Hawley and his colleague then crawled under the train to offer further support to the woman, who also had further serious injuries.

PC Bell recalled: “I had to take my stab vest off to get under the train. My colleague was already under there, and then we manoeuvred up towards the woman together, leaving Ben and Carl continuing to try and finish the tourniquets on her legs. When we got to the top she was conscious, but you could tell she'd got a head injury and at that point we were continuing to check her rest of her body, because we didn't know what other injuries she'd got.

“It was surprising that she was conscious and talking. She could tell us her name, but was massively in shock. The paramedic arrived and gave us instructions, but ultimately he said he couldn't deal with her under the train. We only had about 1ft clearance above our heads, so Ben came in from the other side and the three of us moved her inch by inch so we could support her head.”

The woman was taken to hospital, and NHS surgeons who treated the woman contacted police to say that "without the officers' intervention, the woman's life would have been lost".

PC Bell said: “That was nice to hear. I've got 20 years in the job, and you very rarely get recognition, you don't really expect to hear anything back afterwards.”

When he heard they were receiving Federation Awards, PC Bell said: “We were completely surprised. Last year, we received Royal Humane Society Awards, so it was a bit of a surprise to actually find out that we were getting something else.”

PC Hawley said that receiving a Federation award was “humbling”, adding: “It just reassures you that, despite all the negativity that's out there about policing, we do some really good things.”

South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Steve Kent said: “This was a truly harrowing incident, and the four officers took a personal risk in climbing under the train, but they realised the woman needed immediate first aid. They showed true courage, professionalism and dedication that day, and they succeeded in saving the woman’s life.”

PC Bell, PC Holden and PC Hawley will attend the South Yorkshire Police Federation Bravery Awards 2026 on Thursday 21 May.

At the event an overall winner will be announced who will travel to London for the National Police Federation Bravery Awards in July.

The South Yorkshire Police Federation Bravery Awards are in association with the National Police Healthcare Scheme.

Also sponsoring the Awards are Uniform Mortgages, Philip Williams, Niche, Police Mortgages, Serve and Protect Credit Union, Police Friendly, Irwin Mitchell, Accord, Far and Wide Mortgages, No1 CopperPot, Taylor Law and the South Yorkshire Police Group Insurance Scheme.

Working on the frontline isn't without its challenges, but we have incredible people who are the epitome of police officers and risk their own safety to save others.

We're extremely proud of our OSU Team 👮🏼💙

Three officers who rescued a man from a burning motorcycle have won South Yorkshire Police Federation Bravery Awards.

In December 2023, PC Wes Turner (pictured left) of the Roads Policing Proactive Team was on patrol in Doncaster when he suddenly saw a motorcycle that he believed had an altered numberplate and could be stolen.

The officer tried to stop the motorcycle, but the rider sped off and a pursuit started, travelling through rural roads and onto the A1. Roads policing officer PC Michael Ramsden and dog handler PC Matt Aris (pictured centre) then joined the pursuit to assist their colleague.

PC Turner continued the story: “As the suspect approached a red light, I backed off from him, gave him plenty of distance and observed as an Audi came from the near side of a junction, and the motorcyclist collided with the vehicle. Almost immediately, the fuel tank ruptured, the fuel went all over the rider and he went up in flames.”

PC Ramsden said: “It was almost like slow motion, because you could see what was going to happen, but you couldn’t do anything about it. But the minute that happened, we set to work, and tried to put out the fire.”

PC Turner recalled: “I ran straight towards him. He was on the ground, still effectively sat on the bike, but on his side, on fire. I instinctively reached forward and grabbed him, burnt my hands in the process, and pulled him away. I took my jacket off and started trying to smother the flames.”

PC Ramsden grabbed a fire extinguisher from the back of his vehicle and doused the flames, and PC Aris ran over with his first aid kit.

PC Aris said: “We, as dog handlers, are trained in a more advanced level of first aid, but nothing will prepare you for the injuries that this lad had sustained as a result of being completely engulfed in flames. Our job as police officers is to preserve life, and everything else that has happened before that is almost null and void at that point – it’s just about giving the best possible treatment and trying to save this kid's life.”

The officers continued to provide first aid until the ambulance service arrived and took the injured man to hospital, where he received treatment for several months before returning home. Despite having significant burns, he has made a remarkable recovery.

The IOPC’s investigation found that the officers had carried out a well-managed police pursuit, with no learning identified.

PC Turner suffered burns to his hands, and all three officers were affected psychologically.

PC Turner said: “Between the three of us, we've got over 60 years of policing experience, and I think there are certain jobs in your career where you go home and you think, ‘I've just been involved in something that you could see in a film.’ Once the adrenaline has worn off and you’re sitting at home with a cup of tea, you think, ‘Wow, what have I just had to deal with?’.

PC Ramsden explained: “It's camaraderie, we're a team, and although Matt's on the dog section, we work together on a regular basis and, ultimately, we're there to help people. That's our main priority, to save life and limb. So, when you do that, it’s traumatic and it’s stressful, but it is a good feeling.”

When PC Aris heard they were receiving Bravery Awards, he said: “That night we all did different things, and I appreciate the recognition that I get. However, that guy would have died there and then had Wes not put his own health at risk in order to pull him out of the flames. Mike and I had a huge involvement in his immediate treatment, but Wes put his hands into that fire.”

PC Turner said: “It is a team effort and, regardless of who was in the lead police car, they'd have done exactly the same. I'm fortunate to work with good people like this.”

South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Steve Kent said: “These three officers carried out an extraordinary act of bravery, going above and beyond to save a man’s life while putting their own lives in danger.

"Pulling him out of a fire, using clothes to smother the flames and providing first aid – all these actions saved this person’s life and minimised their lifelong injuries. We are immensely proud of them.”

PC Ramsden, PC Turner and PC Aris will attend the South Yorkshire Police Federation Bravery Awards 2026 on Thursday 21 May.

At the event an overall winner will be announced who will travel to London for the National Police Federation Bravery Awards in July.

The South Yorkshire Police Federation Bravery Awards are in association with the National Police Healthcare Scheme.

Also sponsoring the Awards are Uniform Mortgages, Philip Williams, Niche, Police Mortgages, Serve and Protect Credit Union, Police Friendly, Irwin Mitchell, Accord, Far and Wide Mortgages, No1 CopperPot, Taylor Law and the South Yorkshire Police Group Insurance Scheme.

We really appreciate it when people take the time to write in and say thank you 💙

One of our officers has been praised for his empathy and support after reuniting a driver with their stolen van.

The compliment read: “The traffic officer located our stolen van, and when we attended the recovery yard, he met us there, carried out some last minute checks and explained what he thinks had happened.

“I just want to say thank you for helping us get our stolen van back. Thank you for your understanding and empathy, and everything - you’re one brilliant traffic officer.”