Crime levels almost double in Westfield over 5 month period

Call for local policing shake up
Crime incidents in Westfield April 2016

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

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.

What’s on in York: Baby and Toddler Bookstart Week at York Explore

York Explore Library : Mon 6 Jun – Sun 12 Jun : Various : Free

June 6_BookstartweekWe’ll be going under the sea for this year’s National Bookstart week, join us for a whale of a time!  Lots of fun for babies, toddlers and their carers.

National Bookstart Week is BookTrust’s annual event celebrating the joys and benefits of sharing books & stories every day. We’ll be giving away the special Bookstart story booklets, at every story and rhymetime. This year the chosen book is The Hole in the Bottom of the Sea.

Daily from Monday 6 June to  Sunday 12 June

Under the Sea Trail, Storytimes, Rhymetimes, Colouring & Crafts

FREE, drop in

Mon 6 Jun : Taster sessions of

Baby Massage 10.00am
Baby Reflexology 10.45am
Baby Yoga 2.00pm

FREE but booking is required due to limited places.

Tue 7 Jun : Taster sessions of

Kindermusik 10.00am and 11.00am
Toddler Sense 1.00pm
Baby Sensory 2.00pm

FREE but booking is required due to limited places.

Wed 8 Jun: Save a Baby’s Life Workshop 10.30am

FREE but booking is required due to limited places.

Thu 9 Jun : Browse the Toy Library  10.30am-12.30pm

FREE drop-in

Fri 10 Jun  : Help illustrator Ros Beardshaw create and decorate a giant train in our family workshop 1.30pm

FREE but booking is required due to limited places.

Contact York Explore for more details: (01904) 552828 or york@exploreyork.org.uk

What’s on in York: Festival of Ideas

Venues across the city : Tue 7 Jun – Sun 19 Jun : Various : Free

June 7_FOIYork is an incredibly exciting, vibrant and diverse city, rich in heritage, discovery and an overriding sense of curiosity – in short a city where ideas spring to life and flourish and where collaboration is celebrated.

The York Festival of Ideas will return from 7 to 19 June with a theme of Tick Tock.

Highlights include:

  • Shakespeare: Moments That Matter
  • Zombies in York
  • Cocktails without the Nonsense
  • Inside Future Robots

Speakers include:

  • Comedian Sara Pascoe
  • Composer Sir Karl Jenkins
  • Justice Brenda Hale
  • Economist John Kay

Focus Days include:

  • Living with Floods
  • The Future of Food
  • EU Referendum
  • Mysterious Minds and Bothersome Bodies

For more information about these events and many more please visit

w www.yorkfestivalofideas.com e yorkfestivalofideas@york.ac.uk f facebook.com/yorkfestivalofideas t@YorkFestofIdeas