Search Results for: "Visit Yorkshire" ...

Crime meeting hears residents concerns

Considering the date and location, last night’s meeting to consider policing standards in York attracted a good turnout.

There was little more to report on delays in answering 101 calls although the Police were able to say that on average all non-emergency calls were answered within 90 seconds. Residents were told that a standard 15p (flat rate) fee applied to all 101 calls. There has been a big increase in the numbers of people using the service.

Many residents from the Foxwood and Woodthorpe areas attended the meeting and complained about ongoing anti-social behaviour problems.  A sharp increase in criminal damage incidents had been noted earlier in the year and figures produced for the Westfield Ward (left) showed a steady monthly increase in reports up to the end of October.

The Police explained that they had transferred PCSOs staff into permanent (City Centre) Police officer posts earlier in the year. Many of these had come from sub-urban areas. This might explain why communication links between the Police and Residents Associations stalled in January 2017, and are only now being reinstated.

More recently an increase in police patrols – and the use of social media including twitter (https://twitter.com/NPTYorkSouth) – had been noted. This included a high-profile attempt to take some of the “scooter gangs” off local roads.

Crime distribution in the Westfield ward in October 2017

The performance and transparency of the Safer York partnership was criticised. The Councils web site provides access to the minutes of the organisations last meeting which apparently took place in December 2016 (click). Those attending the public meeting were assured that another meeting had taken place since, although the claimed two monthly frequency was not being achieved (click).

In any event, the Safer York web site is over 2 years out of date and includes a message, urging visitors to help flood victims, prominent on the “what’s on” page!! (https://www.saferyorkpartnership.co.uk/latest-news/)

Nor is the North Yorkshire Police web site much more up to date.  In the neighbourhood’s section they assure residents that the last “event” – property marking – took place last March. There are no events planned for 2018. (click)

Plans to reinvigorate the “Neighbourhood Watch” scheme were announced by Cllr Andrew Waller while most attendees were appreciative of the trouble taken by Cllr Ashley Mason to organise the meeting. Senior police officers present were able to reassure residents that a recovery plan was in place and that the expectations were that policing standards next summer would be higher.

For their part, residents wanted to see more proactive policing with the emphasis being on preventing crime rather than reacting to incidents that had already taken place.

This would mean a sustained improvement in all communication channels and the likely reversal of the trend to centralise resources into the City centre generally and West Offices in particular.

“NO HOME HERE” campaign launched by Police to tackle community harm

North Yorkshire Police has today (Wednesday 6 December 2017) launched a five-month campaign to help protect vulnerable victims of crime.

Titled “NO HOME HERE”, the campaign is designed to raise public awareness about a range of emotionally and physically harmful crimes that often go unnoticed because the victims are living in fear.

The intention is to highlight the patterns of behaviour of both the victims and those responsible for the harm, to the wider community and encourage reports into police via 101 or in an emergency via 999.

Online and media publicity is being used to promote the campaign, including targeted leaflets and posters to a range of people and organisations who are likely to come into contact with both victims and offenders.

With this increased awareness to spot the tell-tale signs, North Yorkshire Police is calling upon everybody in the local community to be extra vigilant and report incidents, either directly to the police or via an alternative reporting channel such as a dedicated charity.

The five strands of community harm that will be focused on during the campaign are:

  • domestic abuse (December)
  • child neglect (January)
  • stalking and harassment  (February)
  • hate (March)
  • modern slavery and human trafficking  (April)

(more…)

York City centre security clamp down as Christmas approaches

City of York Council is working with North Yorkshire Police and partners across York to help keep city centre users safe over the festive season

Our priority is the safety and security of all those attending or involved in events, and residents and visitors are encouraged to continue with plans to attend or take part as normal.

The public may see additional protective security measures at events this year, including the installation of traffic slowing measures.

While traffic to the city centre is already limited at busy times, the addition of chicanes which are being installed this week will help keep pedestrians even safer. The measures will allow delivery vehicles controlled entry at the usual permitted times.

There could also be increased security checks at some events and venues so we advise the public to arrive in plenty of time to allow for this. The current threat level across the UK from international terrorism remains at severe, meaning an attack is highly likely and we reiterate our long-standing advice to remain vigilant and alert.

As ever we would urge residents and visitors to the city centre to get in touch to report anything suspicious by calling the confidential anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321 or, in an emergency, by calling 999.

In the rare event of getting caught up in a weapons attack we urge you to follow the Run, Hide, Tell advice. Run to a place of safety rather than to surrender or negotiate. If there’s nowhere to go then hide and don’t confront. Finally, and only when it is safe to do so, tell the police by calling 999.

For more information on anti-terrorism activities, please visit: www.npcc.police.uk/staysafe
(more…)

Acomb Green Lane trader falls foul of waste laws – fined £670

Waste carriers in York are being urged to ensure they are properly licenced to collect, carry and dispose of waste, following a prosecution today (7 November) of illegal activity.

David Grierson, aged 67 of Green Lane, York, pleaded guilty to two charges of unlicenced handling of commercial waste. York Magistrates Court gave him a 24-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £650.32 prosecution costs and a £20 court surcharge.

Mr Grierson who runs Green Lane Carpets, Acomb was found carrying waste from his business when he was stopped on 10 March as part of a joint operation with North Yorkshire Police and Her Majesty’s Revenues and Customs.

This routine enforcement action involved stopping and searching business vehicles to determine whether they were complying with the legal requirements relating to waste carrying and waste transfer.

Mr Grierson failed to produce a copy of authority to transport controlled waste and failed to produce waste information. He was served with two notices requesting to produce the correct licence and documents, failed to do so and was served with a fixed penalty notice that he failed to acknowledge or pay.

Lower Tier waste licences are free and are required by traders carrying their own waste. Traders carrying other peoples waste require Upper Tier licences which cost £250.

(more…)

City walls shine light on pancreatic cancer

York’s historic walls have turned purple to support a city resident’s campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer.

City of York Council are lighting up Clifford’s Tower and the walls from the station to the Minster to mark Pancreatic Cancer UK’s Purple Lights for Pancreatic Cancer campaign, after being approached by a York resident with an inoperable form of the aggressive cancer.

Jean Clark, 59, of Foxwood, wants to make sure that York residents understand and recognise the early symptoms. 770 people in the Yorkshire and Humber region are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year, with early diagnosis key to the chances of successful treatment.

Mrs Clark was diagnosed in 2013 after at first being diagnosed with acid reflux, before nagging lower back pain prompted her doctor to send her for scans.

Jean said:

“With only 7% of people surviving five years after their diagnosis, picking up the symptoms early is vital. The symptoms are often treated as indigestion, so there’s no investigation. But if you have back ache, acid reflux and a feeling of being full you need to tell your doctor.”

Councillor Ian Gillies, executive member for transport and planning, said:

“We’re delighted to be able to use some of the city’s most iconic buildings to support Jean’s efforts. This vital, potentially life-saving message needs to be spread far and wide.”

Common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:

  • Abdominal pain. This is an early sign of pancreatic cancer in around 70% of patients, which starts as general discomfort or abdomen pain which spreads to the back
  • Jaundice. This occurs in about 50% of pancreatic cancer patients
  • An inability to digest food or weight loss for no apparent reason is also a cause for concern

The walls and tower will be lit until 17 November. For more information visit: www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk

Speed camera vans – Warning over scam Notice of Intended Prosecution emails

PCC Julia Mulligan with a mobile speed camera van

North Yorkshire Police say they have been made aware of a scam where people are being emailed with false Notice of Intended Prosecution letters (NIP) regarding alleged speeding offences.

North Yorkshire Police is keen to alert people to the fact that these are scam communications and are not sent from their Traffic Bureau department.

A genuine NIP (Notice of Intended Prosecution, Section 172 request for driver details) is sent by first class post or recorded delivery, along with a request to identify the driver at the time of the offence. There would not be a request for any form of payment at this stage. The letter would also carry the North Yorkshire Police crest.

People are urged not to make any payment in response to these emails and not to click on any links contained.

Police are advising that if a member of the public receives a NIP and is unsure of its legitimacy, they can visit the FAQ section of the Safety Camera pages on the North Yorkshire Police website https://northyorkshire.police.uk/what-we-do/road-policing/safety-cameras/

Alternatively North Yorkshire Police Traffic Bureau can be contacted via email TrafficBureau@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or  by dialling 01904 618968 Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm.

Cyclists urged to light up and be seen in York

 City of York Council is reminding cyclists in York to light up and be seen as the nights draw in ahead of the clocks changing at the end of the month.

The ‘light up be seen’ project will see cyclists at the University of York, York St John University, York College and Askham Bryan College receive free high-vis equipment and lights alongside safety advice from North Yorkshire Police. The high-vis and lights will be distributed on 17 and 19 October, from 4-6pm.

Cyclists will be advised on the importance of being visible and safe when travelling during darker hours, as well the potential legal implications of not having lights and dangerous cycling.

The campaign is now in its fourth year at the University of York and will be rolled out city-wide for the first time this year.

The four universities and college’s are part of the council’s ‘Travel2Campus’ project, which encourages students and staff to be safe and consider all modes of transport when travelling around York.

For more information visit www.itravelyork.info/for-schools/travel2campus-project

(more…)

Hamilton Drive dog attack owner fined

Owner of dangerous dog to pay £320 for not keeping it under control

  The owner of a bull terrier which was issued a dog control order in May this year, has been given a conditional discharge for 12 months and has been charged £320 by York Magistrates Court.

Leanne Wyrill, aged 27 of James Backhouse Place, York, owns a Staffordshire cross breed which attacked other dogs in a York park and killed a neighbour’s cat. She was given a dog control order on 24 May 2017 with £260 costs.

In court today she pleaded guilty to failing to keep her dog under control. The Magistrate charged her prosecution costs of £300 and a court surcharge of £20. The conditional discharge means that if she is found guilty of the same offence in the next 12 months, she could face further costs and possibly a sentence.

The court order requires Ms Wyrill to keep the dog under proper control at all times, muzzled and wearing a collar whenever it’s outside, and also to be kept on a lead whenever it’s in a public place.

The court heard today that on 28 and 29 May, 13 and 16 June 2017 the dog was seen in its owner’s back garden without a collar or muzzle. After the sightings in May, the council wrote to Ms Wyrill reminding her of the order’s conditions.

On 24 and 25 June 2017, the dog was seen again in the back garden without a muzzle and, in the early hours of the morning of 26 June 2017, it was seen running down the street towards Hamilton Drive, York and later that same day in the garden without a muzzle.

Council neighbourhood enforcement officers visited Ms Wyrill again and asked her to attend an interview to discuss the offences and be given further advice about the order.

Between 27 June and 4 August 2017, Ms Wyrill allowed the dog in the back garden without a muzzle on four further occasions. She failed to attend the interview or answer questions sent by letter.

The Magistrate confirmed that if Ms Wyrill wanted to vary the control order she would have to contact the court to do so.

To report a dog on dog attack in York, residents should call the council on (01904) 551551 or email neo@york.gov.uk. Reports of dog attacks on people should be reported to North Yorkshire Police by dialling 101. (more…)

York makes safeguarding everybody’s business

Helping everybody understand that safeguarding is their business is a line-up of events from the York partners joining in national Safeguarding Week from 9-13 October.

The Safeguarding Boards for Adults and Children and Safer York Partnership along with partners such as City of York Council, York Hospital, CVS, domestic abuse experts IDAS, North Yorkshire Police and The Retreat have published a programme of activities and seminars to help put the safeguarding of children and adults firmly at the fore of residents’ and professionals’ minds.

Mindfulness courses and ‘Confident parent, confident child’ and ‘Fit food, fit kids’ classes from York Learning are available from the council and will be promoted during the week.

  • The NHS Trust’s children and adult safeguarding teams will be on hand at York Hospital throughout the week to chat and meet visitors’, staff and patients alike.
  • Two introductory courses on safeguarding adults, plus a chance to ask questions on adults at risk, will take place on 11 October at the Gateway Centre, Front Street, Acomb, and on 13 October at Tang Hall Community Centre from 2-4:30pm. Please book a place with Penny.hutchinson@york.gov.uk
  • Nelli’s Cafe at New Earswick Methodist Church will host a drop-in question and answer session with the chair of the Safeguarding Adults Board Kevin McAleese on 11 October from 10am-12noon.
  • Come and chat about the ‘Strength and Wellbeing’ display in North Yorkshire Police’s mobile depot in Parliament Street on 11 October – when council staff will join them – and on 13 October from 9am-4pm.
  • IDAS will run a workshop on healthy relationships for practitioners working with children and adults on 11 October.
  • On the same day York CVS will run a seminar on the lasting effects of grooming which is open for workers in the voluntary sector, before holding its first ever parents’ forum run by its nursery team.
  • The Retreat is offering adult social services practitioners a seminar on safeguarding covering positive risk taking, partnership working and promoting positive wellbeing.

Among the social media activities by partners will be signposting services such as social prescribing which can support strength and wellbeing.

The full programme of events for Safeguarding Week is at: www.safeguardingadultsyork.org.uk
(more…)

York residents urged to stop smoking and get behind “Stoptober”

City of York Council is supporting this year’s Stoptober campaign and is urging the people of York to sign up to the 28-day stop smoking challenge.

There has never been a better time to quit smoking and the campaign follows data published in a University College of London (UCL) report which showed that nationally quitting success rates are at their highest for at least a decade.

The report showed success rates were up to 19.8 per cent for the first six months of this year.  This is significantly higher than the average for the last 10 years (15.7 per cent) and means smoking rates across the Yorkshire and Humber area are now at their lowest level ever (17.7 per cent) and there are now more ex-smokers than current smokers.

It doesn’t matter how long people have smoked for, stopping smoking can improve your health straight away. It can also protect loved ones from second hand smoke and illnesses such as asthma, meningitis and some cancers. People who smoke a pack a day, could save as much as £250 per month by quitting.
(more…)