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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Bravery award for man, 84, who fought off mugger
A pensioner who fought off a mugger with the help of a pair of jeans has been commended for his bravery. Ron Croker was on his own at the Coin-Op Launderette in Maltby, Rotherham, on 7 January when a masked Lloyd Smith burst in and demanded his wallet. Mr Croker, 84, wrapped a pair of jeans around his arm to protect him from any potential weapons and shoved Smith, 42, back through the door. This week, Mr Croker was presented with a commendation for his "tremendous courage" in fighting off Smith, who has since been jailed for the attack. Mr Croker suffered bruises to his hands and arm but otherwise escaped without losing his wallet or any other items. He previously told the BBC he had worked "all my life" for his money and decided Smith was "not having it". Rotherham District Commander Ch Supt Andy Wright said Mr Croker's actions had been "nothing short of remarkable". "We often talk about police officers running towards danger when others run away from it," he said. "In this instance, Ron did neither. He stood his ground, fought for what is right and showed tremendous courage when it would have been easy not to." According to South Yorkshire Police, Smith was identified by members of the public after CCTV footage of the attack was publicised. Smith, of Myrtle Grove, Rotherham, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was jailed for three years and nine months at Sheffield Crown Court in June. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North More on this story Launderette robber fought off with jeans jailed Launderette robber fought off with pair of jeans Related internet links South Yorkshire Police
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New deputy mayor for policing and crime named
A former probation officer and senior civil servant is set to be named as deputy mayor of policing and crime for South Yorkshire. Kilvinder Vigurs has been selected by South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard as his preferred candidate for the role. Ms Vigurs began her career as a probation officer in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire and most recently has served as Regional Probation Director in Yorkshire and the Humber. She said: "I am absolutely committed to spending my first few weeks going out to talk to people. You can read things, but you can't feel the emotions people have." As Deputy Mayor, Ms Vigurs will work with Coppard to oversee and improve policing and criminal justice services, to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and to commission services to support victims and reduce offending. She will deliver the Police and Crime Plan, chair the Local Criminal Justice Board, chair the Safer Roads Partnership, and have close oversight of the Violence Reduction Unit. In recent months, South Yorkshire has made national headlines following rioting at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Manvers, near Rotherham, and the fatal stabbing of teenage school boy Harvey Willgoose. Ms Vigurs said: "The first thing I need to do is talk to communities and ascertain what they think. "We need to talk to parents whose children have been victims of knife crime, we need go out to the communities who are experiencing daily anti-social behaviour that makes their lives a misery. "Clearly the media headlines are the bad news but I also think there is some good news to be sharing as well." In her new role she will also need to deal with the legacy of South Yorkshire Police's handling of events at the Orgreave coking works in 1984, the Rotherham child sex abuse scandal and the Hillsborough Disaster. Ms Vigurs said she promised to keep talking to CSE survivors to "make sure lessons have been learned" and said she supported the calls for an inquiry into Orgreave. Another area for her to focus on is the "fundamental accounting error" which led to a £65m hole in South Yorkshire Police's finances, with Coppard saying the results of an inquiry into the matter set to be made public later this year. Coppard, who will remain accountable for all the functions of Police and Crime Commissioner, said: [Kilvinder's] wealth of experience, her priorities, her values and her sheer determination to help people will help to change South Yorkshire for the better." Ms Vigurs' appointment is subject to a confirmation hearing by the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel on Thursday 15 May Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North More on this story Related internet links
