At approximately 4:20 today
(11/09/2019) there has been a burglary on Askam Lane. 2 offenders possibly ran
towards the Tedder Road / Cornlands Road area.
If you saw anything suspicious or have any information that will assist the
police with their enquiries please call 101 and state the reference number –
NYP – 11092019 – 0341
Burglary in Foxwood
Police are reporting that there was a “sneak in” burglary in Martin Cheeseman Court , Foxwood.
The incident took place yesterday, Tuesday 10th September between 6:00pm and 9:15pm
If you saw anything suspicious or have any information that will assist the police with their enquiries please call 101 and state the following incident number – 12190168674
Appeal for information following a serious assault on Hob Moor
North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses and information about a serious assault that occurred recently in the Hob Moor area of York.
It happened at around 6pm on Wednesday 4 September and involved the serious assault of a 64-year-old local man who was walking his dog on Hob Moor.
The victim received facial injuries and lacerations to his mouth which required hospital treatment.
As a result of the current police investigation, a 63-year-old man from York was arrested and has since been released under investigation pending further enquiries.
We are asking for the public’s help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
In particular we are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward with any information they have.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Phil Kennedy. You can also email philip.kennedy@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Please quote reference number 12190164399.
National campaign to recruit 20,000 police officers launches today
· Home Office campaign features serving police officers and urges people to join the police and ‘Be a force for all’
· Up to 200 officers could be recruited in North Yorkshire
· North Yorkshire Police’s Deputy Chief Constable Phil Cain is encouraging potential recruits to register their interest at northyorkshire.police.uk/JoinUs
A national campaign to recruit 20,000 new police officers is launched today (Thursday) – urging people to join the police and ‘Be a force for all’.
The police recruitment drive is the biggest in decades and could mean an additional 200 police officers across North Yorkshire.
The ‘Be a force for all’ campaign has been developed by the Home Office in partnership with the police and using feedback from the public via independent research.
It features serving police officers, including a neighbourhood officer, a police dog handler and a firearms officer. One of the officers started as a volunteer Special Constable, while another is a former charity executive who changed career.
They appear on billboards and digital displays at locations across England and Wales, including at shopping centres and railway stations, as well as in a radio advertisement.
A new website has also been set up to provide potential recruits with more information and direct those interested in policing in North Yorkshire to the recruitment pages on North Yorkshire Police’s website.
Potential recruits can also express their interest before recruitment opens in North Yorkshire directly on the force’s website at northyorkshire.police.uk/JoinUs
A second phase of advertising is planned for the New Year.
Deputy Chief Constable Phil Cain of North Yorkshire Police said:
“This is an exciting opportunity for anyone considering a career in policing to join our team.
“The role of the Police Officer is one of the most important parts of the policing family. No other job gives you the sense of satisfaction like this job does – you will be the frontline of the criminal justice system, helping people in their time of need and assisting when they are at their most vulnerable. It is a challenging but extremely rewarding role which offers long-term career opportunities.
“There is no denying that 200 additional officers will make a significant difference to policing in North Yorkshire but for us to achieve that figure we need people to apply. We’ll be announcing further details when recruitment opens in North Yorkshire soon but in the meantime, please register your interest here: northyorkshire.police.uk/JoinUs
“We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences and recognise that the more our force reflects the diverse communities that we serve, the stronger it becomes. Whether you are just starting out in your career or are a more experienced and mature individual looking for your next challenge, this is your police force, please come and join it.”
For more information visit joiningthepolice.co.uk
Forged tenancy agreements used in council tax fraud
An investigation into a council tax fraud involving forged tenancy agreements has been uncovered and successfully prosecuted by City of York Council.
Joanne Smith (aged 39 previously of Howden Lane, Crockey Hill), provided the council with three forged private tenancy agreements for properties within the York area between 2017 and 2018.
The agreements stated that she was the sole tenant at each property, when in fact she had an additional adult living with her. This meant she was not entitled to the £1,202.43 council tax reduction nor the £618.34 single person discount that she claimed.
An investigation into the authenticity of these tenancy agreements was conducted by Veritau, the council’s fraud investigation service. Veritau were notified of the fraud following concerns that the documents Miss Smith had provided were false and were an attempt to obtain a reduction to her council tax that she was not entitled to.
During the course of the investigation, Miss Smith was interviewed under caution by Veritau officers and admitted to forging one of the tenancy agreements, and that she had provided it to the council to obtain a reduction to her council tax.
The investigation concluded with Miss Smith pleading guilty to one charge of fraud and six charges of forgery and counterfeiting at York Magistrates Court on Monday 29 July 2019.
On Tuesday 20 August 2019, Miss Smith was sentenced by York Magistrates to a 14-month custodial sentence suspended for 18 months and 20 days of rehabilitation activity. She was also ordered to repay £1,820.77 which is the full amount of council tax reduction and single person discount, and to pay a victim surcharge of £115.
In her defence, the mitigating circumstances offered were that she and her children have health issues and that she had suffered a family bereavement in 2017.
Councillor Nigel Ayre, City of York Council’s Executive Member for Finance and Performance, said: “This is a case of fraud against the authority, made all the more serious by involving forged documents.
“The actions in this case were an attempt to defraud the public purse. We encourage anyone with any information on suspected fraudulent activity to phone the fraud hotline on 0800 9179 247 or email fraud@york.gov.uk .”
“Sliding bollards” plan for York City centre
Temporary measures introduced to protect York’s busiest city centre spaces from terrorist attacks could be made permanent by City of York Council next week.
The Council’s Executive will consider the results of a trial restricting vehicle access to the busiest city centre streets during footstreet hours (10:30-17:00) at its meeting next Thursday (29 August)
The Councils consultation revealed major conflicts with the wishes of groups representing disabled people
It has been criticised by a former Tory Councillor who said on social media “Almost everyone wants to pedestrianise our city centre. It should be about improving it and supporting business growth in difficult times…not terrorism”
Changes were introduced last November following police counter terrorism advice for long-term measures to combat the ongoing threat of ‘vehicle as weapon attacks’ like those seen recently in Toronto, London and Nice.
If approved, a sliding bollard system would restrict access to Parliament Street, St Sampson’s Square, High Ousegate and Spurriergate, Coney Street, Davygate, Finkle Street, Church Street and Jubbergate during footstreet hours (10:30-17:00).
The Executive introduced the measures on a temporary basis to allow for work to understand the impact of restricted access on key groups, including disabled people and others with limited mobility within a core part of the city centre.
The council commissioned studies of how blue badge parking changed throughout the period, alongside a series of workshops with individuals and groups representing disabled people in York.
In addition to the available parking on the streets next to the restricted area, the executive will consider mitigation proposals including:
• continued access to St Sampson’s Square for Dial and Ride services
• creating blue badge parking on the traffic-restricted section of Piccadilly, and converting the taxi rank to blue badge parking during the day time (10:00-18:00)
• extending the parking time restrictions outside Explore on Museum Street from 2 to 3 hours
• supporting marketing efforts for alternative services like Shopmobility and Dial and Ride
*If approved, the Piccadilly changes would be subject to a traffic regulation order change. The proposed changes would be advertised for up a three week period to allow for objections before a decision can be made.
Experiments with rising bollards in the past in York have encountered reliability issues. Reliability and maintenance costs are not considered in trhe Council report.
City centre future
The same meeting will consider launching a consultation exercise on the future of the City centre retail area. The area has change a lot in recent years with several shops being replaced by pubs and restaurants.
Problems with drunken behaviour have increased.
If approved, an engagement exercise “following the principles of early and ongoing public involvement, pioneered on the Castle Gateway regeneration scheme”, would begin in the new year.
This would deliver a “strategic vision for the city centre to guide future development, regeneration and investment decisions”.
The proposal has the support of the York BID and “Make it York”.
The Council report fails to address the needs of sub-urban high streets like Front Street
Arson attack on wheelie bin in Acomb
A wheeled bin has been set on fire on a lane at the top of Green Lane, Acomb. The precise cause of the fire is unknown but some refuse has been deposited on the highway.
Steady rain has prevented the spread of any fire today
We have asked the York Council to arrange for an urgent clean up
Crime levels stable in York
Police security marking event tomorrow (Tuesday)
Overall crime levels in York have remained reasonably stable over the last 12 months.
Usually at this time of year – summer holidays – anti social behaviour issues and vandalism show a peak.
It will be a month before the picture becomes entirely clear but early indications are positive.
In the year up to the end of June, anti social behaviour was the most reported crime across the City. This was followed by violence and criminal damage (vandalism) as the next most reported crimes.
It was a similar picture in Westfield
More information is available on the Police UK web site click
Meanwhile on Tuesday the 13th August 2019 the York City Neighbourhood Policing Team will be holding a cycle registration and marking event in partnership with York BID and Street Rangers. The event will take place in the garden area next to Black Horse Passage on Stonebow, York between 1200PM and 1500PM.
“The service is completely free and your cycle will be recorded on the Immobilise database which is a national property register. Once recorded you will have access to your own account on Immobilise.com allowing you to added / remove property and upload photographs of your recorded property. We will also be using a Dot Peen machine to mark cycles with your post code to add another layer of security”.
“Please come and speak with officers at the event for further information or visit www.immobilise.com”
Car jacking in Chapelfields
Appeal to find vital witnesses to attempted car robbery.
Police in York are appealing for witnesses, including two people who came to the aid of a woman when a man threatened her with a knife and ordered her to give him her car.
It happened around Chapelfields Road and Ridgeway in Acomb, York, between 9.45pm and 10.15pm on Thursday 25 July 2019.
The suspect jumped onto the bonnet of the victim’s car when it had stopped at the junction.
The 22-year-old woman driver got out of the car and the suspect pulled out a knife and threatened her, telling her to give him her car or he would tell people she had run him over.
A man driving a silver car came to her assistance and the suspect ran off along Ridgeway towards the direction of St Aiden’s Church.
Although not physically injured, the woman was badly shaken by her ordeal.
Officers are appealing to the man who came to victim’s aid and his woman passenger to come forward as they may have vital information about the suspect.
They would also like to hear from anyone else who was in the area at the time and saw the incident or saw a man running along Ridgeway around the time of the incident.
They would also like to hear from anyone who may have dash-cam footage of the incident or the suspect.
The suspect is described as a white, around 23-30 years old, 5ft, 7in, of skinny build with a thin face, he was clean shaven, had dark eyebrows and spoke with a local accent. He was wearing a black hooded top and dark coloured trousers.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Dave Marsden . You can also email David.Marsden@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12190135830.
Covert cameras may be used to identify litter louts in York
The York Council is understood to be testing the use of covert surveillance cameras in a bid to deal with increasing problems with fly tipping, littering and dog fouling.
The latest figures reveal that only 6 people were fined for littering offences in the City during the last financial year.
Even fewer were issued with a ticket for allowing their dogs to foul a public area. Only one was issued last year.
We understand that a new model of portable CCTV camera is now being piloted. The camera is fully GDPR compliant
Some ward committees have allocated funding in the past with the intention of providing surveillance for streets subject to anti social behaviour. The plans have never come to anything.
Now it seems that some Councillors are prepare to call time on activities which are costly to clean up and, in the case of dog fouling at least, may be a potential public health risk.
The Council have not provided details of where the trials are taking place or what their priorities might be if the scheme is extended to cover the whole City.
