 Hello and welcome to the latest roundup of news and information
across the city centre.
This edition features updates on a variety of city centre stories, including:
- New community safety survey launches
- New policing base opened in Frenchgate
- Continued effort to deep clean city centre
- Children and young people provided access to safe spaces
- Doncaster city centre celebrates Vaisakhi
- Art project sees cardboard replica of the corn exchange built in city centre
- Safer city day of action
- Single use vape ban comes into force
- You can make a real difference with Real Help
- Save the date: Armed Forces Day
- Let's celebrate Father's Day together
- You could make a real difference with real help
How Safe Do You Feel in Doncaster?
What kind of safety issues are you most concerned about in Doncaster and how effective do you think the relevant agencies are at tackling these? Have you been a victim of crime in recent months? Have you witnessed or been the target of antisocial behaviour?
The Safer Stronger Doncaster Partnership (SSDP) wants your answers to these questions and many others.
We know that safety is a top priority for the people of Doncaster and want your perspective on how things could be improved. That’s why people across our city — whether they live, work, study or own a business here — are being urged to give feedback as part of a new survey run by the SSDP.
By sparing just 10 minutes to complete this questionnaire, you can help shape our plans for the future when it comes to making your area more secure and welcoming. Alongside key partners — like South Yorkshire Police — we will be listening closely to what you say here and will be using the results to focus our work and inform our priorities. So, it’s important that you make your voice heard!
The Community Safety survey will close on Sunday 6 July.
New Policing Base Opened in Frenchgate
A new policing base has opened within Frenchgate Shopping Centre, allowing neighbourhood police officers to further strengthen ties with retailers and respond even quicker to incidents in and around Doncaster's main shopping centre.
The venue will act as a site for police constables (PCs) and police community support officers (PCSOs) within Doncaster Central Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) to work out of during their shifts.
The creation of this venture also supports ongoing partnership work with City of Doncaster Council as part of the Safer City campaign, which has seen the authority pledge to spend £1m on new safety measures in the city centre.
Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, said: “This is the latest in a series of really positive steps that have been taken as part of our commitment to make Doncaster city centre a more welcoming and inviting place that everybody can enjoy.
“During last year’s Big City Conversation, the public made it very clear that improving safety and security in our city centre is an absolute top priority alongside reopening our airport. Together with South Yorkshire Police, we have listened to these concerns and are working hard to address them, whether that’s by investing in cutting-edge technology, increasing our patrols, or introducing other resources to help people feel more secure.
“I am pleased then that our joint efforts are now being strengthened even further by the launch of this new base at the Frenchgate. Enabling neighbourhood officers to respond more quickly to incidents that arise in the area, we hope that it will encourage visitors to make more use of the city centre and assure local businesses that crime and antisocial behaviour are being taken seriously here.
"With summer just around the corner, and a number of exciting events planned, we want everyone to be enthusiastic about coming to our city centre and experiencing everything that it has to offer.”
To read the full story - https://www.doncaster.gov.uk/News/new-policing-base-opening-in-doncaster-s-frenchgate-shopping-centre
You can continue to find out more about how we are making Doncaster safer here:
 Continued Effort to Deep Clean City Centre
From the train station to the high street, right through to the marketplace, our Street Scene team is always committed to keeping the city centre neat and tidy. During a recent day of action — in which they came out in full force to focus specifically on this area of Doncaster — they were out and about deep cleaning the pavements, jet washing footpaths and clearing up litter and other bits of detritus. You might also have seen our state-of-the-art Scrub Deck Sweeper on the move, giving the streets a good, thorough cleanse everywhere it went.
This day of action, which supplements the team's daily cleaning routine, is part of our continued efforts to make sure Doncaster city centre is a welcoming environment that all visitors can enjoy. As we approach Summer, we’d encourage everyone to come down and experience all that it has to offer. To see the packed schedule of events and activities that are lined up for the coming month, check out the Visit Doncaster website or click the link below.
Children and Young People Provided Access to Safe Spaces in Doncaster City Centre
Children and young people who find themselves in situations where they need support will now be able to get that assistance at 11 different stores across Doncaster city centre.
Devised by the council's Young Advisors, the Child Friendly Safe Space initiative encourages local retailers and restaurants to put young people first and, in the process, to create a safer, kinder city. The stores have all received special training enabling them to provide this support and, if a young person does need aid, staff will do everything in their power to help them until the appropriate services can take over.
Stickers are displayed at each of the venues in question, indicating that they are indeed safe spaces for children and young people in the city centre. The following stores are part of the scheme: Costa Coffee; Dazzle; Flip Out; Frenchgate Centre customer services; Primark; River Island; Select; Subway; ToyLand; Victoria Cross Trust; and the EPIC Hub.
Cllr. Sue Farmer, Cabinet Member for children, young people and families, said: “I take great pride in Doncaster Council’s Young Advisors for creating the Safe Space initiative. This program ensures that children and young people feel secure, knowing they have a safe place to turn to if they ever feel scared, anxious, or unsafe while in the city centre. Our goal is to foster independence among our children and young people and having that supportive presence can make a significant difference. I would like to extend my thanks to the retailers who have already joined us and hope to see even more participate.”
Doncaster City Centre Celebrates Vaisakhi
On Sunday 18 May, our city centre streets were bursting with colour and music as the Sikh community gathered together for the annual Nagar Kirtan parade.
A religious procession that promotes unity and peace, this celebration is part of the major Vaisakhi festival. Taking place in Sir Nigel Gresley Square, the local event featured traditional clothing, spiritual hymns and even free food.
Alongside our city centre teams, who supported the parade, Doncaster Town Ward Cllr. Majid Khan was also in attendance.
Art Project Sees Cardboard Replica of the Corn Exchange Built in City Centre
We’d like to say a massive thank you to those who took part in the Monumental Constructions art project at the end of May!
While this cardboard installation — part of Right Up Our Street's Festival of Making — has since been taken down for recycling, you can still admire the impressive replica that was built of Doncaster’s Corn Exchange in this great pic taken by our Safer City team (who themselves pitched in with the project)!
Well done again to everyone who came together and did our city proud here by bringing this amazing creation to life!
If you'd like to know more about how the sculpture is being recycled, click the link below to see Right Up Our Street's video, where they speak to Laura from HW Martin Waste Management.
Safer City Day of Action
Together with South Yorkshire Police, the council’s City Centre Engagement Officers (CCEOs) are out and about every single day of the week ensuring that our urban core is a safe and welcoming environment for everyone can enjoy
While this presence is constant, coordinated Days of Action do take place as well to make a bigger impact. During the last of these, on Tuesday 20 May, the multiagency teams from the police and council engaged with visitors and businesses in the city centre, patrolled hotspot areas, and ultimately joined forces to crack down on crime and antisocial behaviour.
More Days of Action like this are planned over the coming weeks. With that said, you see our CCEOs out and about, either during these days or otherwise please don’t hesitate to approach them. They’re always ready to assist and make your city experience the best it can be.
Single Use Vaping Ban Comes Into Force
As of 1 June 2025, it is now illegal for businesses to: sell or supply; offer to sell or supply; or have in their possession for sale or supply all single-use or ‘disposable’ vapes. This applies to:
- sales online and in shops
- all vapes whether or not they contain nicotine
This applies to all businesses within Doncaster.
If you suspect a business is selling illicit vapes or cigarettes, you can report them to us via the Citizens Advice website here
Businesses can access a national toolkit to help promote the new regulations here
Save the Date: Armed Forces Day
Saturday 28 June from 11am
Join us in celebrating Armed Forces Day 2025!
Starting from Duke Street at 11am, there will be a parade through the city centre, followed by a brilliant family friendly event at Elmfield Park. Second World War military vehicles will be featured , alongside local veterans, pipers and police horses. Don't miss out!
 Let’s celebrate Father’s Day together
Doncaster Family Hubs are excited to invite you to our upcoming Father’s Day Event taking place on Saturday 14 June, from 10am to 3pm.
Join us at The Corn Exchange in Doncaster city centre for carnival games, balloon modelling, arts, crafts and much more. It's sure to be a great family day out for all to remember.
The event is FREE with the chance to win prizes and make some treasured father’s day gifts to take away
  You Could Make a Real Difference With Real Help
You have the power to make a significant impact. Rough sleeping does not just happen in the city centre, people all across the city are struggling and could find themselves without a home.
If you encounter someone sleeping rough, we are asking you not to ignore the situation. By sharing their location with the Starting Point outreach team, you can help someone receive the necessary support and care. The team will reach out to the individual and ensure they have access to resources that can help them in transitioning away from life on the streets.
The Starting Point team offers comprehensive support for individuals who are caught in a cycle of rough sleeping and facing complex issues such as substance misuse, and poor mental and physical health, often stemming from past trauma. For more details on the Starting Point team and their efforts to assist those who have become rough sleepers, visit www.doncaster.gov.uk/startingpoint.
To get an individual the support they need, you can email the individuals location via email at StartingPoint@doncaster.gov.uk or call (01302) 309800 and ask to speak with the duty officer.
 
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