Crime update for York

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High-value mountain bike stolen in York:

£500 reward on offer for information that leads to arrests and charges.
Police in York are investigating the theft of a mountain bike valued in excess of £6,500.
The grey Cielo bike with orange lettering on the frame, custom built in the USA by Chris King, was taken from outside a property on Gladstone Street, off Huntington Road, at about 3pm on Friday 27 September 2013.
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Help beat doorstep crime on Older People’s Day (TODAY)

North Yorkshire Police are urging people to support UK Older People’s Day by helping to raise awareness of doorstep crime amongst their elderly relatives and neighbours.
Elderly people are particular vulnerable to the risk of doorstep crime. This can be people tricking their way into their homes by posing as officials such as police officers, council workers or gas meter readers with the intention of stealing their possessions.
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Witnesses sought after two women assaulted in York

Detectives are appealing for witnesses after two women were assaulted in York.
The women aged 18 and 19-years-old, were walking home along Percy Lane at around 11pm on Monday 23 September 2013, when they were attacked by a man near the bridge over the River Foss.
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Students urged to follow basic crime prevention advice following sneak-in campus burglaries

North Yorkshire Police is investigating two burglaries at student accommodation at York St John University.
The incidents at the campus, which is in the Hungate area of the city, occurred between 10pm on Sunday and 12.45am on Monday (29-30 September 2013).
In one room, which was left unlocked, a Apple MacBook laptop was stolen.
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Chance to quiz top police officer about what matters most to you TODAY

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Kennedy will host a live webchat on Tuesday 1 October to mark his first month in the job.
The webchat will take place between 5pm and 6pm To join the live webchat and to ask Mr Kennedy a question, please visit our website www.northyorkshire.police.uk

Twitter @snayorkwest

• There have been 2 damage to vehicles reported in the Woodthorpe area on Sat night (28th). Have you seen/heard anything? Please ring 101.

• There has also been a stolen moped taken from the Dringhouses area. Any sightings of YJ11FZN white Piaggio Zip then please ring 101

Lendal Bridge – the unanswered questions

The Council claim to have published on their web site a complete list of answers given to question raised during their “twitter” Q & A session last week.

Problem is – they haven’t!

Amongst those still not answered are:

Crime and police update

Latest mobile speed camera locations
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Witness appeal following York assault
Detectives in York are appealing for witnesses to come forward following an assault in the city which left a man seriously injured.The man, who is aged 51 and from York, was found at around 1am on Thursday 5 September 2013, outside Talbot House, Melrosegate
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Police search for York man in connection with assault

Council amnesty on Lendal bridge fines?

The media is reporting that the Council will waive the fines due from motorists who have used Lendal Bridge during the last 10 days.

No indication has been given of the number of penalty notices this would affect.

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The Council is saying that it will use the number plate recognition cameras (ANPR) to enforce the access restrictions from tomorrow (Wednesday).

The amnesty statement has not apparently been issued by Cllr Merrett who is responsible for the closure.

No statement has been made about any amnesty for those who have fallen foul over the last month of the extended restrictions on Coppergate.

The restrictions there are also being enforced through the use of ANPR technology.

Meanwhile the City centre is very quiet today raising fears that shoppers are being discouraged by the controversy surrounding the Lendal bridge closure trial.

The Council are being asked to publish daily data from their footfall cameras.

Although most City centre traders and visitor attractions have reported a buoyant summer, the period leading up to Christmas is the most critical time of the year for City centre shops.

If shoppers shun the City centre then it could be the death knell for some small traders.

Council spending £1/4 million each year clearing fly tipping

Dumping and litter on Tithe Close snicket1400 hours 23rd Aug 2013

The York Council has admitted that it is costing taxpayers £250,000 a year to clear fly tipping in the City.

7 people are employed full time on the task.

They use 3 specialist vehicles.

The Council was heavily criticised last year when it closed the recycling centre in Beckfield Lane.

Residents forecast that fly tipping would increase.

The Council claimed then that the closure would “save” £40,000 a year.

Other contributory factors to the problem with fly tipping can be traced to the decision to stop the provision of mobile skips in some neighbourhoods.

Many litter bins have also been removed, while this winter there will be no green bin collections over a period of nearly 6 months.

The Council has also claimed that it no longer gets any income from the sale of materials returned to Hazel Court for recycling.

New initiative tackles housing fraud across North Yorkshire

An initiative to tackle housing fraud across North Yorkshire is being launched by a regional alliance led by Veritau.

In the past two years Veritau, a company owned by City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council which investigates fraud within the public sector, has freed over 40 misused properties allowing them to be legitimately let. In addition Veritau has provided information to prevent 15 false applications for housing to City of York Council.

Veritau and City of York Council have now joined forces with eight other social housing providers within North Yorkshire to create an anti-housing fraud alliance. The partners are Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, Richmondshire District Council, Broadacres Housing Association, Harrogate Borough Council, Yorkshire Housing, Craven District Council, York Housing Association, and Selby District Council.

This partnership initiative focuses on identifying and prosecuting people who lie about their circumstances in order to obtain a property; tenants who unlawfully sublet their property; tenants who stop living at their property and people who provide false information to gain a property through succession rights.
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