Lifestyle 2015 – launched by Police today!

North Yorkshire Police have officially launched the Lifestyle Challenge 2015.

North Yorkshire Police Lifestyle Challenge Awards 2014

Now in its third year, the competition runs over the summer holidays and aims to give young people aged 10 – 17 a positive project to do over the long break, giving them the opportunity to improve the quality of life in their community.

The teams have to think of a project that they can carry out over the summer holidays that is of benefit to someone or something in the community. They then have until the start of September to work on their project, recording all they do in a log book provided by the police. The log books are then submitted for judging, with the winners attending a glittering awards ceremony in November to receive their prizes, which include PGL adventure holidays, mountain bikes and Kindle Fires.

Projects carried out in previous years include “5ICE” from Selby who cleared gardens in sheltered accommodation and then made and cited nesting boxes; “The Yorkies” who created an outside relaxation area at a local club for disabled youngsters and then raised funds to buy sports equipment; and “Bogus Babes” from Stokesley who launched an anti-crime initiative to warn people about bogus doorstep callers.

Teams wanting to take part can register online at www.northyorkshire.police.uk/lifestyle. They will be sent a registration pack, including a log book to record all their work, a handbook with lots of help and advice, and Company Challenges. These are sponsored by local businesses and agencies and are full of ideas for projects in case the teams are a bit stuck. The first 100 young people to register also receive a limited edition Lifestyle 2015 t-shirt.

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PC Suzanne Asquith, Youth Engagement Officer at North Yorkshire Police, said: “2015 is going to be a fantastic year for Lifestyle. We have got a lot of exciting challenges from our community safety partners and local NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups as well as Hiscox, Shepherd Group and Virgin Trains East Coast. I am also very pleased that this year York City Football Club Foundation have joined us with a brilliant sporting challenge.”

This year a new category has been introduced so entire youth groups or uniformed organisations such as Guides or Scouts can take part. Teams in the Youth Group Division can win a monetary prize to be spent by the group on whatever equipment or activities they like.

PC Asquith added: “The Lifestyle Challenge benefits so many people. Young people can be recognised as having made a positive contribution to their neighbourhood, while the community benefits from new play equipment, cleaner green spaces, conservation areas, family fun days or crime reduction projects.

“It’s a great way to spend the summer and can bring some amazing results. We are very fortunate in being able to hold our awards ceremony once again at York Racecourse and I am looking forward to seeing what the teams come up with this year!”

Front Street, Acomb robbery – Police appeal for information

Police are investigating after a robbery in York.

Officers were called at around 2pm on Monday 6 July 2015, after reports of a robbery outside Halifax bank on Front Street, Acomb.

A man grabbed a cash box from a security guard outside the bank and left the scene on a motorcycle ridden by another man.

It is believed that the motorcycle was abandoned on Newlands Lane, in Hessay, and officers are appealing to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area to get in touch.

The stolen cash box was recovered after being found discarded in Acomb.

The security guard was not injured in the incident.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 – select option 2 – and speak to the Serious Crime Team.

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

Please quote reference number NYP-06072015-0286 when passing information about this incident.

Anti scam campaign underway in York

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.

Cloudburst tests new local drain covers

Just a few weeks after new drain covers – which catch litter and detritus in an easy to clean grill – were fitted to some gullies in the Cornlands Road area, yesterdays downpour provided an early test.

Elsewhere we are currently experiencing good growing conditions. This may be one of the reasons why the annual Foxwood Garden Competition – being judged tonight – has attracted a record number of nominations