Stay safe campaign underway in York

Staying safe is the word on the street this Christmas as North Yorkshire Police get under the feet of revellers in York and Scarborough.

York stencils

As part of the force’s Take Care at Christmas campaign, safety messages have been stencilled onto the pavements to remind people not to “tipple til you topple”, “see your mates home safe” and a reminder not to drink and drive.

The messages have been stencilled using a high pressure water jet into the pavement dirt at key locations.

York and Scarborough are two of the busiest areas during the Christmas party season and have the highest number of calls for service to North Yorkshire Police as a result of people drinking too much.

The messages are intended to remind people not to put their safety or other peoples’ at risk by drinking so much that they are out of control. And to act as a reminder to anyone contemplating drink driving that the police are on the look out for them.

Chief Inspector Charlotte Bloxham of York Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “The stencils are a great way to get our messages direct to the people we need to target.

“York has a bustling nightlife but it is vital that people know their limits and don’t put themselves or other people at risk by drinking too much.

“I hope the messages strike a chord with party goers and make them think about their own safety, getting home safe and looking after their friends.”

The messages have been stencilled in the following locations:

York

Lendal, George Hudson Street, Tanner Row, Micklegate, Swinegate, Lower Ousegate, Toft Green, Clifford Street, Stonegate, Parliament Square, Cumberland Street

Scarborough

York Place, Falconers Road, Harcourt Place, St Thomas Street, St Nicholas Street

Bogus calls warning in York

Residents are being alerted to a spate of unsolicited and potentially fraudulent telephone calls from someone purporting to be from City of York Council.

The caller, who withholds their number, claims to be from ‘York City Council’. Most calls appear to be from men who say they are aware that someone in the household has been in an accident or has witnessed an accident and that this could give rise to a claim.
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Victims of crime sought for Independent Justice Panel

Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner and Jonathan Mortimer, the independent Chairman of the Out of Court Disposal Scrutiny Panel, are today asking for victims of crime to come forward to help scrutinise the use of police cautions and other non-court penalties.

PCC logo

The Panel was set up earlier in the year in response to public concern about the use of Out of Court Disposals in North Yorkshire. The Panel has identified that its objectives are to ensure that such penalties are used appropriately, consistently across the county and to make recommendations to North Yorkshire Police.
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Pub watch scheme starts in Dringhouses

York police and partner agencies have teamed up with local publicans in the Acomb and west side of the city to help keep licensed premises trouble free.

So far, 17 pubs in the area have signed up to a new Pub Watch scheme which aims to prevent anti-social behaviour and criminal activity in and around licensed premises, helping to create a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for customers.

Working together with the City of York Council, YBAC (York Business Against Crime) and Apex Radios, the scheme works by providing licensees with a forum to instantly share information about crime and people causing trouble in their pubs and bars. This could then lead to a person being banned from every establishment that is part of the scheme.
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Tudor Road arson attack – photo

Detectives in York have issued a CCTV still following an act of arson in the city as they appeal for the public’s help to identify the suspect.

CCTV still of Acomb arson suspect

It was reported to the police shortly after 12.50am on Tuesday 14 October 2014, by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, who were dealing with a car fire on Tudor Road, Acomb.

The suspect was seen placing something underneath a BMW before setting it on fire.

After the incident, the person responsible headed towards Hamilton Drive.

As a result of the fire, the BMW 3 series was completely destroyed and a Citroen Berlingo and a Mazda were damaged. The front of the house was also damaged by the fire.

Detective Sergeant Mark Jackson, of York CID, said: “The act of arson took place very close to the house where people were sleeping. This fire could easily have led to potentially devastating consequences.

“If you recognise the person captured on camera, or saw someone matching their description in the Tudor Road, Gale Lane or Middleton Road areas around the time of the fire, I urge you to contact the police immediately.

“I am also keen to speak to anyone who works at local garages who may have sold fuel to someone filling a petrol can, and ask them to get in touch straight away.”

Anyone who can assist with this investigation should contact York CID on 101, select option 2 and ask for the department by name. Alternatively, information can be emailed to yorkcid@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

Or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, quoting reference number 12140177124.

Acomb Wood Drive store theft – pictures released.

Police have released CCTV images of two people they would like to speak to in connection with a shop theft in York.

Acomb Stills

At around 6.45pm on 27 June 2014, a man and a woman entered Tesco on Acomb Wood Drive and took alcohol and food from the shelves before leaving the store without paying.

Acomb Stills 1 Displays a larger version of this image in a new browser window

Officers are appealing to anyone who recognises the people pictured in the images to contact them with information.

Anyone who can help officers with their enquiries is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 – select option 2 – and ask for PC Gemma Churchward or York police.

Alternatively, information can be emailed to gemma.churchward@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

If you prefer not to give your name, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111.

Please quote reference number 12140105226 when passing information about this incident.

 

Make your home BurglarProof with new app

North Yorkshire Police has launched an online app to help you make sure you don’t become the victim of burglars.

NYP App Store

BurglarProof is a quick and easy step-by-step guide to help you assess your home’s security.

A quarter of all burglaries are carried out by opportunist thieves taking advantage of an unlocked door or window.

Homes that don’t have basic security devices, such as window locks and sturdy door locks, are far more likely to be broken into.

BurglarProof features:
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Dim Council?

in the dark

York Council are planning to dim streetlights between midnight and 6:00am.

Residents, in part of Council Leaders James Alexander’s Holgate ward, were used as guinea pigs in a trial earlier in the year.

In January 2014 the council installed LED lighting in Hamilton Way, Collingwood Avenue, Stewart Road, and Amberley Street in Holgate with several being operated at 50-60 per cent.

The Council Leadership claims that residents did not notice that lights had been dimmed.

Problem is that there was no consultation and residents were kept in the dark (sic) about the trial.

No data on crime levels was reported by the Council who claim that the programme was agreed by the Councils Cabinet on 1st July as part of its (no irony) “rewiring” project.

In reality only passing reference was made to street lighting in a report which ran to over 100 pages.

The Council says, “No comments or complaints were received on the varied levels of lighting throughout the trial”.

Given the flaws in the Councils customer contact system this is hardly surprising. You can’t even report, through the Councils web site, a faulty street lamp let alone a “dim” one.

The Council says,

Behind closed doors logo

“Over 1,500 lanterns in York will be replaced this year with a new ‘white light’ – providing a clearer light, which will help make people feel safer at night.

The LED lantern conversions will be installed over a seven month period until January 2015, predominately in the following areas: Rawcliffe, Clifton, Huntington, New Earswick, Copmanthorpe, Bishopthorpe and Micklegate.

The Wards that have been chosen are areas that house the highest number of 35watt low pressure sodium lanterns (orange light).

The new lighting will also help make significant carbon, energy and cost savings.

In addition to the new LEDS, lights will also be reduced by up to 50-60 per cent on streets between midnight and 6am when the traffic flow levels can be described as quiet. Although the level of lighting reduces this is still within current lighting level standards”.

It is certainly possible to make some savings – and reduce carbon emissions – using more energy efficient systems and lighting cycles.

Such a programme was started by the Council as long ago as 2008.

However, the cost/benefit figures – produced by the Council – now do need further analysis

And, of course, street lighting has a major role to play in tacking crime with back lanes and snickets likely to be particular problem areas when we get to dark winter evenings.

The Council has been secretive in its approach and has played fast and loose with resident’s safety.

They should be more open with their plans in the future.

Policing changes for Dringhouses and Woodthorpe?

North Yorkshire Police have announced a shake up of their structures in York and the rest of the county.

They claim that their main aim is to use technology to increase the time that Police officers and PCSOs spend on the streets.

If it does that then it will get a lot of support from residents.

Police helmete

In surveys that we have conducted recently, some residents have pointed to a reduced patrolling profile for the Police compared to 3 years ago.

The Police will also need to review their communications strategy.

Most residents – while welcoming the use of Twitter, Facebook and the like to provide information quickly – prefer to get a briefing leaflet through their letterbox. This used to be done using joint newsletters with the local Council but this seems to have petered out. Neighbourhood Watch schemes have been unable to fill the information gap in most of west York.

The detailed proposals for policing in York are still unclear.

The Police statement talks of reducing the number of neighbourhood policing teams in the City from 3 to 2. Provided the Sergeants and Inspectors are easy to contact and take time to get out in the community that may not matter.

The last thing that we need is more managers sat in Fulford Road.

The Police should operate out of local community centres and schools whenever possible.

All in all, with a consultation on the future of crime and policing in the City not due to finish until 15th June, the announcement seems a little premature and leaves a lot of unanswered questions