Crime and policing – weekly York round up

North Yorkshire Police – public view

Although North Yorkshire Police commented on the latest crime figures published by ONS, they didn’t’ respond to the public perception figures published at the same time.

69.8% of residents said that they thought that North Yorkshire Police were doing an excellent or good job. This compared to an average for England and Wales of 61.9%. North Yorkshire didn’t achieve the highest rating though with forces like Dorset, Thames Valley, Surrey, Hertfordshire and Norfolk rated more highly.

Asked whether North Yorkshire Police dealt with local concerns, 64.9% of residents agreed. The national average was 61.5%. Eight other forces were rated more highly than North Yorkshire.

The detailed crime stats for York only, covering a 12 month rolling period, are reproduced in the table. Full data can be found by clicking here

York police step up the fight against burglars

Police in the north of York have launched a new high-visibility operation to protect property and deter burglars.

As part of Operation Joypad, officers from the York North Safer Neighbourhood Team are carrying out high-visibility patrols and physically checking properties to ensure they are secure. The operation is also strongly supported by Special Constables, volunteer police officers with full police powers who give up their own time to protect their communities.

Information appeal following rape near Dunnington

North Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a rape that occurred two weeks ago today near York.

The incident occurred in a layby on the A1079 near Dunnington, on the night of Wednesday 1 July.

The victim, a woman in her forties, was attacked in her car whilst sleeping, by a man who is believed to be a lorry driver. The man is described as white, aged about 55 years old, 5ft 10ins tall, of proportionate build and with blond or light hair. He is described as having a tattoo on his upper left arm, possibly an anchor. The vehicle he was believed to have been driving is described as a large lorry similar to an HGV, cream or white in colour, with red lettering on the side including the letters ‘D’, ‘E’.

Bicycle theft – York city centre

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses and information about a cycle theft that occurred in York city centre.

It happened outside of Sainsburys, Piccadilly, York, at 3.15pm on 3 April 2015 and involved a man wearing a grey hooded top and jeans. A black coloured Specialized Jinx ladies bicycle was stolen which had lime green detailing.

We are conducting enquiries and are requesting the public’s assistance to help determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Appeal following collision on The Mount

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses and information about a minor collision that occurred on The Mount in York.

It happened at approximately 5.20pm on 29 May 2015, and involved a cyclist and a dark-coloured soft top type vehicle.

The cyclist received minor injuries after the vehicle collided with her whilst she was waiting to turn right at the junction.

Unfortunately the driver of the vehicle failed to stop.

Damage to First Bus York

North Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses after the First York #1 bus service from New Earswick to Wigginton was attacked by two youths. Damage was subsequently caused to a window of the bus and a replacement service had to be called.

The incident occurred when the bus was parked on Haxby Road, York, near the Lime Tree Avenue junction on Sunday 31st May 2015 at 2230 hours.

We are conducting enquiries and are requesting the public’s assistance to help determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident

Police seek driver of Citroen Saxo involved in traffic collision on Cornlands Road

North Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses and information about a minor collision that occurred on Cornlands Road in York.

It happened around 1pm on 13/06/15 and involved a black, sporty-looking Citroen Saxo, the driver of which is yet to be identified. The vehicle collided with a six-year-old boy on Cornlands Road in York, knocking him off his bike.

The boy sustained minor injuries in the collision. Although the driver stopped at the scene of the collision and spoke to the boy’s father, they did not leave any contact information.

Drugs, robbery, sexual offences, violence, weapons offences show increases. Burglaries, vehicle offences & vandalism down

There were a total of 34,617 crimes in North Yorkshire 0.5% increase, 168 more crimes – in comparison to the same period in 2013-2014

Broken down into the main crime categories, the ONS figures for North Yorkshire show:

Domestic Burglary reduced by 13% (1,371 crimes in total, down 196 from ,1567), with overall Burglary down by 6% (3,960 crimes in total, down 258 from 4,218)
Criminal Damage and Arson down by 9% (5,097 crimes in total from 5,615)
14% reduction in Vehicle Offences (2,207 crimes in total, down 363 from 2,570)
Robbery increased by 25% (146 crimes in total, up 29 from 117)
8% decrease in Theft Offences (16,831 crimes in total)
Sexual Offences up by 50% (1,054 crimes in total, up 352 from 702). As previously explained, this rise is generally regarded as a positive reflection of the confidence victims have in North Yorkshire Police, particularly those making historical complaints. This is also influenced by Operation Yewtree and Operation Hibiscus (Jimmy Savile/Peter Jaconelli investigations), and the opening of a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in York two years ago.
Violence Against the Person went up by 20% (7,366 crimes in total, up by 1,128 from 6,138). This rise is almost entirely attributable to the Violence without Injury category. This includes Common Assault and Harassment offences. A problem profile conducted on trends in this crime category in the Autumn of last year showed improved recording following a recent HMIC inspection, an increase in historical reports, increased pro-activity around enforcement of orders and improved victim confidence.
Drug Offences increased by 15% (2,085 crimes in total, up 272 from 1,813)
Possession of Weapons Offences up by 26% (230 crimes in total, up by 47 from 183)
Public Order Offences decreased by 1% (1,238 crimes in total, down by 18 from 1,256)
Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society, which includes the possession and publication of extreme sexual images, was up by 35% (570 crimes in total, up by 148 from 422).

Deputy Chief Constable Tim Madgwick said: “The latest crime figures reflect the sheer determination of North Yorkshire Police and our partners to make North Yorkshire the safest place in England.

“We will continue to focus our efforts on all elements of criminality and improve the service we provide to those who unfortunately become victims of crime. Certain crimes continue to become more challenging and complex to investigate, however we are investing in new technology and I am confident the skills and commitment of the North Yorkshire Police team will rise to any future challenges.”

North Yorkshire remains the safest place to live, work and visit in England, the Office of National Statistics confirm.

Keep it to your selfie – North Yorkshire Police launches new online safety campaign

North Yorkshire Police has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of online safety and child sexual exploitation among young people.

The ‘keep it to your selfie’ campaign is urging teenagers to #pausebeforeyoupost and think about the consequences of sharing images online.

It is estimated that as many as 75,000 paedophiles are online at any one time making it vitally important that young people know exactly who they are taking to on the internet.

Three videos have been produced to support the campaign, which is aimed at boys and girls aged between 11 and 18.

One of the videos will be released each week for the next three weeks on North Yorkshire Police’s social media channels.

The first video can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvy1QDugYlA

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Walker, Head of Cybercrime for North Yorkshire Police, said: “If we are to tackle child sexual exploitation effectively, we have to educate young people and do whatever we can to highlight the dangers to them and promote online safety.

“The internet, and social media in particular, is a place where paedophiles can groom children by posing as someone else and we have to make young people aware of that.

“I hope the videos we have produced can help young people stop and think about what they are doing before posting anything online. People share images and information in the virtual world that they wouldn’t dream of sharing in the real world and we need to make young people think about that.

“It is also important to bear in mind that once you have shared an image online you lose control of it, you don’t know where it will end up or whose hands it will fall into. You might think you are only sharing it with one person but do you know who they are going to share it with?”

The ‘keep it to your selfie’ campaign was launched at Selby Globe Community Cinema on Thursday 9 June 2015.

Detective Inspector Shaun Page, North Yorkshire Police’s lead for child sexual exploitation, said: “I am urging people to share the videos as much as possible. It is really important that we educate young people about child sexual exploitation and we think that the best way to reach them is online.

“The videos all carry a strong message in a style which young people can identify with and if they can prompt people to think carefully when using the internet and social media then we are making progress.

“It is very difficult to investigate child sexual exploitation which is committed online, therefore prevention and education is extremely important if we are to protect young people from internet predators.”

Keep an eye on Twitter @NYorksPolice and Facebook www.facebook.com/NorthYorkshirePolice or visit our Youtube channel www.Youtube/NorthYorkshirePolice to see the latest video release.

More information about child sexual exploitation can be found at www.northyorkshire.police.uk/cse

Police demonstrate new property marking equipment

Councillors and community activists were given a demonstration at York St John University last night of the ‘Telesis’ property marking equipment acquired by North Yorkshire Police, and were encouraged to help organise sessions locally where residents can have their valuables marked.

Equipment being used

The Police have acquired four sets of the portable kit, with City of York Council having use of one set. The device pin stamps a mark, such as house number and postcode, onto a range of items such as laptops, garden tools, golf clubs and bicycles.

It can be powered by battery as well as mains electricity, and so can be used remotely. The equipment makes a permanent mark on the item stamped, and there are various pressure settings available depending on the item being stamped.

Marked items can then be registered on the Police ‘Immobilise’ database, making it easier for stolen items to be reunited with their owners.

Free tool marking sessions have been organised at allotments across the city over the summer months – further details at https://www.york.gov.uk/info/20078/allotments/369/allotments

Cllr Stephen Fenton saw the equipment in action and was impressed:

“It is very frustrating for the Police when they find equipment that they suspect is stolen, but the absence of a mark makes it harder to prove. And of course it makes it more difficult to return stolen property to its rightful owner.

“The Neighbourhood Police team are keen to work with local communities to organise sessions where they can visit a neighbourhood to mark items in people’s homes and also run drop-in sessions where residents can bring portable items to a hall or community centre.”

Scams awareness month throughout July in York

The York Council is calling on residents of York to expose scams and help stop more people from falling prey to clever cons that fleece them of thousands of pounds.

Scams Awareness Month runs throughout July to highlight how scams continue to flourish when people stay silent.

We’re asking you to keep two things in mind when you’re ‘approached’, or when you’re looking for goods or services:

don’t be rushed
don’t be hushed

You should:

take your time to make a decision
get all the facts before parting with your money or personal information
speak out when you think you’ve spotted a scam

Figures show that less than 5% of victims report scams to the authorities – our Trading Standards team is encouraging you to report suspicious activities, get advice if you think you’ve been conned, and to warn others to help stop scams from spreading.

Types of scam

Scams come in every form: from doorstep double glazing sales to online investment offers.

People may be targeted with ‘vishing’ calls where a fraudster impersonates their bank to collect their bank details, or by bogus companies offering computer security services.

Online scams include dodgy job adverts and offers for goods and services, while mail scams may ask victims to pay a fee in order to claim their winnings from a prize draw they haven’t entered.

Further information

The Citizens Advice website provides details about activities, information and resourcess to help you take part in Scam Awareness Month, including model press releases, blogs and a range of online content to reflect the weekly themes.

York Police roll out new property marking machines

Four new property marking machines will be in action across York from next week in a bid to deter thieves and protect property.

York Police have invested in the top-of-the-range “dot peen” property marking machines, and are offering the service free to residents.

Every year, police recover hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of stolen property from the hands of criminals, but all too often there is no way of identifying its rightful owners. Being able to trace the ownership of the property not only helps people get the property back, but it can also provide evidence that is vital in securing convictions.

Dot peen marking involves using a tungsten carbide-tipped pin to indent an object with dots to create a visible, permanent unique number. The unique number will be entered onto the national Immobilise property register database, vastly increasing the chances that it will be reunited with its owner if it is lost or stolen.

The new machines in York can mark at a speed of two characters per second, to an accuracy of 0.006mm, and can be used on everything from steel and aluminium to plastic.

They have been funded by North Yorkshire Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, and Safer York Partnership.

While other methods of property marking, such as UV marker pens or forensically-coded liquid, can also be very effective in reuniting property with its rightful owners, the visual deterrent of a permanently marked serial number alone could be enough to deter would-be thieves.

Inspector Lee Pointon, of York Police, said: “York is a very safe city, but we do know that over the summer holidays burglars will be on the look-out for empty homes and unattended outbuildings containing valuable property.

“Marking your property is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from being a victim of crime. Criminals will see the permanent unique number, and know immediately that your property is too hot to handle. If the worst happened and you were targeted, marked property is far harder to sell on, and we are much more likely to be able to return it to you.”

Jane Mowat, Director of Safer York Partnership, said: “Safer York Partnership is pleased to support the purchase of additional Telesis property marking equipment as part of our ongoing work to tackle burglary. We cannot stress enough the importance of marking and registering property so that it can be returned to its rightful owner when stolen property is recovered by the police.”

Dot peen marking is suitable for everything from bikes and garden tools to PlayStations and laptop computers.

More than 80 York police officers, PCSOs and volunteer Special Constables are being trained to use the dot peen machines, and in the coming months residents will be invited to attend drop in sessions to get their property marked. Officers will also be working closely with City of York Council and local Neighbourhood Watch schemes to publicise the service.

For more information about property marking, visitwww.northyorkshire.police.uk/propertymarking. You can also install North Yorkshire Police’s free home security web app, BurglarProof, atburglarproof.nyp.mobi. And you can download our interactive home security iBook – just search for “Securing your home” on iTunes.

To find out when your next property marking event is taking place, follow your local York police team on Twitter at @snayorkcityeast,@snayorknorth or @snayorkwest. The service will be promoted on Twitter with the hashtag #whatisdotpeen

York police invite residents to observe “Stop & Search” in action

Police in North Yorkshire are giving people the opportunity to see stop and search powers in action from today.

Under the Stop and Search Lay Observer Scheme, members of the public can apply to accompany officers on patrol when they might deploy stop and search powers.

North Yorkshire Police officers carry out about 20 stop searches per day, and these powers are an effective policing tool to detect crime, recover property and arrest offenders. The force has adopted the Home Office Best Use of Stop and Search Scheme to increase transparency and further improve our use of these powers.

Chief Inspector Mark Grange, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “By introducing ‘lay observation’, a process of two-way learning can take place, bringing the police closer to the public.

“Under this scheme the police have the opportunity to demonstrate their use of stop and search, while members of the public will be provided with the opportunity to see stop and search in action, and provide feedback based on their observations.

“I would encourage anyone interested in observing stop and search in action to visit our website to find out more.”

Applicants will need to be voluntarily vetted prior to being approved to accompany an officer, and will need to be flexible regarding the hours they accompany an officer and the area where they patrol. A number of other restrictions apply, which are outlined on the application form.

To find out more about the use of stop and search by North Yorkshire Police, visit www.northyorkshire.police.uk/stopsearch. To apply online to join the Stop and Search Lay Observer Scheme, visit www.northyorkshire.police.uk/layobserver.

York Police plan anti social behavior push

The media are reporting that the police intend to have a major drive against anti social behaviour during the upcoming school holidays.

It will be the first push of its kind since 2009.

Stats released by the Police confirm that incidents of anti social behaviour peak in July and August (an interesting interactive map can be viewed by clicking here – covers all types of crime giving its location down to local neighbourhoods)

More local information can be found here. It details reported crimes at street level. The latest figures are for April 2015 http://www.police.uk/north-yorkshire/york-west/crime/

We hope that the local Police commanders will ensure that sub-urban areas receive a fair share of enforcement resources and that PCSOs patrols are maintained – as a minimum – at historic levels.

We remain unconvinced that the decision to centralise anti social behaviour work into a “hub” at West Offices has worked

The Councils decision to promote York as a “Party City” has also backfired with rowdy groups producing an intimidating atmosphere in some parts of the City centre even during the day (as well as the evening). That policy needs to be reviewed quickly

The Council must also ensure that its activities programmes for younger people are refreshed. The May issue of their Shine magazine can be downloaded by clicking here

The last Council drastically cut Youth Services while at the same time removing subsidies from local community centres. The latter decision means that centres are now dependent entirely on voluntary effort to stay open. With potential volunteers often working themselves during the day, that could mean that valuable community resources could lie unused for much of the summer.

All in all, the York Council and its partners need to rethink their approach to crime and the causes of crime.

Young people wanted for York Police Cadet unit

North Yorkshire Police is recruiting young people for its first ever uniformed Volunteer Police Cadet Unit in York.

A pilot scheme is set to run for two years and is open to girls and boys aged 14 to 16 who live or study in or near York.

The scheme is being run in partnership with Askham Bryan College where cadet training sessions will take place on weekday evenings during school term.

Temporary Inspector Martin McLachlan who is leading the scheme, said: “This is a great opportunity for young people in the York area to do something different. The aim of the cadet scheme is to encourage a spirit of adventure, good citizenship and increase self-esteem and confidence. It will also help to promote a practical understanding of policing among young people and aims to inspire them to participate positively in their communities.

“It is open to anyone from any background, as long as they live or study in or near York. If the York pilot scheme is successful, it will pave the way for other units to open across North Yorkshire.

“It will be great fun and the cadets will meet new people and make new friends as well as learning skills for life. And, thanks to Askham Bryan College’s partnership with us, we will have great facilities in which to hold our cadet nights.”

The unit is set to open in September 2015 and after the first three months of initial training, cadets will take their oath at a passing out ceremony attended by family and friends.
(more…)

More drunks driving in North Yorkshire

The crack down on drink and drug driving continues with North Yorkshire Police planning a number of targeted operations over the coming weeks.

540 breath tests have been conducted with 61 arrests having been made so far.

Of particular concern from the arrests already made are the high levels of alcohol being detected.

Alarmingly 20% of those arrests have provided samples three times over the legal limit (35 micrograms per 100ml). During the same campaign last year only 6% of arrests provided readings of this level.

The highest reading taken so far was from a 58-year-old man arrested in the Malton area, who blew 139ug – just under four times the legal limit. He was later charged to Scarborough Magistrates’ Court and received a driving ban for 34 months and was ordered to pay £295 costs and carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.

A 42-year-old man who appeared at York Magistrates’ Court with a reading of 123ug/100ml received a 12 week suspended prison sentence, along with a 36 month ban and £315 costs to pay.

Four further cases have appeared in court this week; all received driving bans and hefty fines.

New road side drug screening devices are also helping North Yorkshire Police catch those driving under the influence of drugs. 13 arrests have been made so far due to positive drugs tests with three positive results for cannabis.

Sgt Andy Morton of the Roads Policing Group said “These prosecutions show that if people choose to break the law and drive under the influence of drink or drugs – we are out in force and waiting to catch you. Be assured, when we do, you will face a hefty fine and the possibility of a prison sentence.”

“If you are going out to have a drink ensure you have thought about how you will get home at the end of the night – leave your car at home.”

“We continue to appeal to members of the public that if they know of someone driving under the influence of drink or drugs – please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 or report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”

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Cllr Stephen Fenton, Cllr Ashley Mason & Cllr Paula Widdowson

Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Liberal Democrats