Call for local policing shake up
Crime incidents in Westfield April 2016
The latest crime figures for York – which cover the period up to April 2016 – have revealed spiraling problems with anti-social behaviour and criminal damage incidents in some neighbourhoods.
In Westfield crime levels increased from 117 incidents, reported in December 2015, to 201 reported in April. Although crime levels are seasonal – the summer usually sees higher levels – recent trends are worrying.
During the last year there were 926 reports of anti-social behaviour. This represented half of all crime reported in the Westfield area. Other problem categories included violence and sexual offences 285 reports (15% of the total) and criminal damage 215 reports (11.5%)
Of the reports, the Police decided to take no further action in 63% of cases. In only 15% of cases was an offender actually taken to court.
We have said before that the centralisation of anti-social behaviour resources into a “hub” in Toft Green does not appear to have been in the best interests of sub-urban areas. The important link between named “community constables”, painstakingly built up during the last decade, has been lost.
Crime trends in Westfield area
In a survey, currently being conducted in the Westfield ward by local Councillors, only 30% of respondents have so farsaid that they know the name of a local police or community support officer.
The police rarely advertise local surgeries although to some extent the property marking programme fulfils this need. The West Neighbourhood policing team also “tweet” quite a lot which is helpful for those that use that channel.
On the other hand the relaunched Community Messaging Service has so far generated few warnings and little advice on local York matters.
We feel that the Police must make more use of community noticeboards, local newsletters and various web sites.
The York Councils news page for Westfield contains no information about crime and policing activities at all.
It also would be nice to see a crime reporting and advice desk established at the Acomb Explore Library. It is a building which is genuinely becoming a local information hub in the best sense of the word.
These, and other ideas for dealing with crime, need to be part of an ongoing public discussion involving the police, Councillors and residents.
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