Student assaulted on Tadcaster Road

York police are appealing for information after a college student sustained serious facial injuries during an assault on Tadcaster Road.

Between 10.35am and 10.45am on Wednesday 9 October 2013, the 19-year-old man was walking back to York College with a group of friends after attending Askham Bar Tesco store.

As the group walked along the pathway which leads to the college, an altercation took place between the group and two men who were walking towards them.

Following an exchange of words, during which the victim stood up for a younger member of the group, the victim was assaulted and sustained a broken cheek bone, jaw and eye socket.

The two suspects are described as both aged around 18, both white, one around 6ft tall, of stocky build and wearing a grey shirt, the other is around 5ft 11in and of slim build with ginger hair.
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Police change policy on 20 mph enforcement?

20 mph

Chances of a major confrontation on York’s streets, over the Labour Councils proposed “wide area” 20 mph speed limits, increased today following the publication of new enforcement guidance from the Association of Chief Police Officers.

The request for new guidance apparently originated from Transport Minister Norman Baker who was removed from his post in the Cabinet re-shuffle earlier in the week.

It appears that drivers found driving between 24 mph and 31 mph in the zones may be “invited” to go on a new style “speed awareness course”. Usually the other option is a £100 fine and 3 penalty points!

Similar courses have been an option for those exceeding – by a small amount – existing speed limits. They are generally well received, but reaction, from normally law abiding motorists to the new restrictions, is less predictable.

The Labour plan involves extending lower 20 mph limits to roads on which there has never been a recorded accident.

Behind the new limit, which could cost £600,000 to sign, is Cllr Semlyen – a Micklegate Labour Councillor – who is an extreme zealot on the issue.

The speed limit plan compliments Labour’s policy of targeting motorists through the extended use of ANPR cameras. Income from their use on Lendal Bridge and Coppergate is now understood to exceed £1/4 million.

The ACPO guidance is not open ended and talks of the need for limits to be clearly signed with natural enforcement using “engineering, visible interventions and landscaping standards” to increase driver awareness of accident risks.

Nevertheless, it is a change from the previous Police policy which (rightly) supported 20 mph limits only where they were self enforcing (for example using traffic calming systems)

The guidance does not recommend if proactive measuring of speeds should routinely take place in any new 20 mph limit areas.

So the North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioners’ assurance, given at a public meeting on 10th April, that there would be no camera enforcement of 20 mph limits presumably still holds good.

Our view remains that the Police and Council should concentrate their resources on those roads which have a poor accident record.

The ACPO guidance reads:
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Foxwood car crime arrest, Woodthorpe break ins

The police are also reporting that there were 4 day time break in yesterday (Wednesday) in the Dringhouses and Woodthorpe area.

Windows were smashed to gain entry.

Police are urging everyone to keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour and report accurate descriptions via 101.

www.northyorkshire.police.uk/york-west
@snayorkwest

Police urge vigilance after York burglaries

York police are urging residents to keep an eye on neighbouring properties after a number of recent burglaries.

Officers are investigating four break-ins, two of which were at houses that are currently up for sale.

Three of the burglaries occurred in close proximity to each other in the Huntington Road and Monkton Road area of the city between Friday 4 October and Monday 7 October 2013.

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York Police – Sunday update

Appeal as man arrested after serious collision in York

Police investigating a road collision in York in which a woman was seriously injured are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
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Police reassure community as three arrested following York disturbance

York Police would like to reassure residents that they believe a violent incident in York on Saturday was an isolated one and that the wider community was not at risk.
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7 back alleys to be “gated”

The Council has decided to fit security gates to the alleys at the following locations

Behind closed doors logo

Micklegate Ward
• Millfield Road / Thorpe Street
• Thorpe Street / Russell Street
• Russell Street / Scott Street
• Scott Street / Nunmill Street
• Nunmill Street / Bishopthorpe Road
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Holgate Ward
• Walworth Street North and Hanover Street West
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Clifton Ward
• Fountayne Street and Scaife Street

Residents survey cites poor highway maintenance as York’s biggest public service problem.

York residents survey results click to enlarge

York residents survey results click to enlarge

A survey completed by over 400 residents living in the west of York has revealed that highways and footpath maintenance are now the biggest cause for complaint.

73% thought that road and footpath maintenance had got worse in the City over the last 2 years.

The service was followed closely by ice clearance which 69% thought had got worse.

This is bad news for the Labour Council as the response come before the latest set of cuts to winter maintenance are implemented.

Parking provision was criticised by 65% with the large increases in parking charges introduced by the Labour Council likely to be the main influencing factor.

More than 50% of respondents also thought that litter, control of dogs, refuse collection and weed removal had got worse.

Only crime prevention fared relatively well, with 66% saying that the quality of the service was unchanged

The survey results will add pressure on the Council to support additional investment in street level public services at its meeting on Thursday.

New Licensing rules for scrap metal dealers come into force in York

York Liberal Democrats have welcomed a new law giving councils greater powers to combat the blight of scrap metal thefts on communities across the country.

Every scrap metal dealer is having to obtain a licence to trade from their local authority under the new Scrap Metal Dealers Act with councils now able to refuse or revoke licences. The Act also makes it illegal for anyone to buy or sell scrap metal with cash and gives councils new powers of entry and inspection and the ability to shut down rogue dealers.

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