Policing concerns at record high levels in Westfield

Early results from a survey of residents opinion on public service standards have revealed that over a third of respondents rate policing in the estate as “poor”. When asked about Policing services residents rated it as

Vandalism a growing problem

  • Good – 13%
  • Satisfactory – 49%
  • Poor – 38%

This represents a marked decline from previous results

Many residents, responding to a separate Westfield Focus survey, said that they hadn’t seen a Police Officer or PCSO in their street during the previous 4 weeks

The Lib Dems have now announced that they would give the North Yorkshire police force an extra £2.8 million a year

Liberal Democrats have announced they would boost investment in police forces by £300m a year. This is in stark contrast to the Conservatives who have overseen devastating cuts to community policing. Theresa May as Home Secretary and now Prime Minister has cut policing budgets by over £2bn, eroding the very fabric of community policing.

Under the Liberal Democrats North Yorkshire would see a funding increase of £2.8 million a year. This could be used to restore a visible policing presence in the community and ensure the police have the training and tools to deal with the changing nature of crime.

“This investment in our police is absolutely vital. Under Theresa May – first as Home Secretary and now as Prime Minister, our police have had to deal with the most brutal of cuts. These are now cutting into the bone.

“Our police work tirelessly to keep us safe and this Government has completely betrayed them.

“Only the Liberal Democrats have a credible plan to reverse the increase in violent crime, boost community confidence and ensure the police have the resources they need to keep us safe.”

 

  •  On policing cuts: According to figures from the National Audit Office (NAO), from 2010/11 to 2015/16 central government grant to police and crime commissioners and their equivalents in London including specific grants and council tax freeze grants has reduced £2.2 billion in real terms. This represents a 22% real terms reduction. – http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7279/CBP-7279.pdf
  • On police strength: At 31 March 2016 total strength of the 43 police forces in England & Wales reached just over 124,000 FTE officers. This is the lowest number of police officers recorded under the current strength measure. This is not a pattern we see in Scotland where police numbers have seen year on year increases almost continuously since 1985.
  • On neighbourhood policing: In the PEEL report Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabularies warned that the neighbourhood policing model was under threat due to funding cuts. The report stated:
  • Since 2015, there has been a substantial drop in the proportion of people who say they have seen the police, on foot or in a police car, regularly, in their area. Our research shows that, now, fewer than one in five people feel there is a regular uniformed police presence in their area. Where neighbourhood teams exist, police officers are routinely taken away from their local areas to meet demands in other parts of the force area, leaving a reducing number of PCSOs as the mainstay of community teams. – https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/wp-content/uploads/state-of-policing-2016.pdf

What’s on in York: Explore a Story

York Explore Library :

Thu 18 May :

1.30pm – 2.30pm :

£2

Bog Baby Mud Pie‘Explore a Story’ is an interactive storytelling session for 2-5 year olds. The session uses props and games to get the children involved in bringing the stories to life.

The sessions give children the opportunity to use and develop their imaginations within the storytelling, and helps to develop their creative skills beyond the sessions also. This interactive style of storytelling shows the children different ways to read a story and opens up and re-imagines how the stories are put together.

Come with us through the swishy swashy grass on a bear hunt, with teddy to the moon, or on a perilous quest to find some secret treasure. They are encouraged to bring their own ideas and build them into the session on a journey through the imagination.

Available to pre book by coming into any York library or by telephone on (01904) 552828 or york@exploreyork.org.uk.

What’s on in York: Friends of Dringhouses Library Coffee Morning & booksale

Dringhouses Library :

Thu 18 May :

10.00am – 12.30pm :

Free

CakeCome along to our coffee morning and booksale. Join us for some chat with friends and neighbours, some tasty cakes, and some bargain books!

All proceeds go to the Friends of Dringhouses Library, who support the library to be the best it can be.

Friends of Dringhouses Library is a group of local people who want to help Dringhouses Library to thrive and deliver a wide range of activities.

Their role includes fundraising, supporting one-off activities, acting as a link between the library service and the wider community, and promoting Dringhouses Library and Explore York Libraries and Archives.

Special offers available on the day, like buy a coffee and cake and get a free book!

For more information please call Lucy on (01904) 552674 or dringhouses@exploreyork.org.uk.