Now with extra topping: Pizza drivers in Sheffield given head cams after yob attacks

Pizza delivery drivers in a suburb of Sheffield are being equipped with head cams to stop them becoming the victims of anti-social behaviour.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Jun 2015, 18:03 BST
Sgt John Mallows, a deliver driver wearing one of the head cams and Louisa Wood from Pizza HutSgt John Mallows, a deliver driver wearing one of the head cams and Louisa Wood from Pizza Hut
Sgt John Mallows, a deliver driver wearing one of the head cams and Louisa Wood from Pizza Hut

Drivers from Pizza Hut in the Abbeydale Road area in Woodseats have been targeted around 25 times in the last year, with one being pulled off his bike and another having a brick thrown at him.

As part of a three-month trial of the store delivering alcohol, Pizza Hut provided its drivers with head cams at the request of police.

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Within three days of the trial starting a teenager was arrested in connection with an incident involving a driver.

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with a number of offences including common assault, and causing a danger to other road users. He was due to appear at Sheffield Youth Court on May 29.

South Yorkshire Police officers have also given drivers training on keeping safe, licensing conditions and what police are doing to tackle this behaviour.

Sergeant John Mallows, from the South West Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “This is an excellent example of South Yorkshire Police working with an international brand to solve ongoing issues in the area.

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“We are carrying out a number of initiatives to help prevent nuisance behaviour in the Abbeydale Road area, which are having a positive effect.

“By taking this unique approach we are helping to keep the delivery drivers safe and bringing those responsible for antisocial behaviour to justice.”

Louisa Wood, Restaurant General Manager for Pizza Hut on Abbeydale Road, said: “The safety of our staff is our highest priority. Our drivers are committed to delivering to the community in which they live and work.

“Working alongside the police we hope the headcams will have a positive impact on not only our drivers safety but also making positive steps towards reducing the incidents of antisocial behaviour in our community.”

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Last summer two men were jailed for stabbing to death a Sheffield pizza delivery driver completing his last ever shift before leaving for his “dream job”.

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, 25, was on his final round working for Domino’s Pizza before taking up a new role as an IT consultant when he was killed in the Southey area of Sheffield in 2013.