EXCLUSIVE: People becoming 'desensitised' to gun crime on the streets of South Yorkshire

That's according to an anti-violence campaigner in Sheffield

Author: Chris Davis-SmithPublished 7th Aug 2023

We're hearing people in South Yorkshire have become 'desensitised' to gun crime taking place on the streets where they live.

This week - we're looking at the issue across Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley & Rotherham.

Over 10 years ago - Sheffield man Anthony Olaseinde made a life changing decision.

When he became a dad - he chose to stop hanging around with criminals & since then has focused his energy on diverting youngsters away from violence.

We've been speaking exclusively to the 35-year-old about the gun crime he was exposed to in his youth:

"I've seen a fair few shootings in my life. One second, everything is okay, the next minute, everything changes. It's just mad.

"It all comes down to the lifestyle you choose and the people you surround yourself with.

"Shootings can affect an entire neighbourhood, just not the target or property it's aimed at.

"What about the next-door neighbour?

"What about the road getting blocked off so that young kids can't get to school?

"What about the parents having to raise their children in the area?

"These criminals just don't care about any of that.

"Being around the kind of people who carry guns and stuff, they don't realise the actual impact that shooting at a house can have.

"That extreme violence is in its own little world.

"Those within that little bubble only think it has an impact on others within it as well, but there are people out of that small world who end up being affected too.

"When I left that circle, people got upset with me.

"I've probably still got people that want to hurt me now because of it.

"I didn't like how that life made me feel though, and I'm sure others would leave that world behind as well if they could."

Last month - several shootings took place across South Yorkshire over a few days - in places like Burngreave, Aston & Thrybergh.

Hear all the latest news from across Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster on the hour, every hour, on 97.4FM, 102.9FM, 103.4FM, DAB, at hallamfm.co.uk, and on the Hallam FM app.