Music-making kit seized to silence noise nuisance in Thoresby Road area

Equipment used to play overly loud music day and night has been seized following complaints, repeated warnings and formal notices to the owners.

Complaints about two separate households in two blocks of apartments in the Westfield Ward included the volume and frequency of music. People found their sleep was being affected by the noise, and working from home was made more difficult.

Following advice, warnings and formal notices being issued to the people playing the music, City of York Council applied for warrants from York Magistrates Court. Visiting the flats last week, officers from City of York Council and North Yorkshire Police seized stereos, speakers, TVs and other items ahead of ASB Awareness Week (19-23July).

Working with the victims, council officers gathered evidence of the nuisance they suffered. Officers were told that the noise was so loud they were disturbed night and day unable to work from home during the pandemic, or watch TV in the evening or even sleep in their beds at night.

Noise recording equipment installed over five days provided evidence of nine incidents of serious noise nuisance going on for hours at a time, with the perpetrator listening to TV music channels at full blast.

Corona virus update – 30th March 2020

Gangs of youths

Police request, “If any residents see groups of youths or any persons gathering in a location or not adhering to the government guidelines to please ring 101 at the time so that officers can attend the location asap and obtain the details of those involved and give appropriate advice etc. We’ve got extra patrols out on foot and cycles at this time”.

Supermarkets generally quiet

Most supermarkets in York are now quieter than they have been recently. Many now have stocks of toilet paper, eggs, spray disinfectant etc all of which have been in short supply. We are still pressing the authorities and businesses to use social media to highlight busy times, stock shortages, home delivery pipelines etc. For a City which prides itself on innovation and hi tech literacy this has been a bit of a letdown.

NB. No shortages in Waitrose York earlier today. Well organised by helpful staff

Crime levels in York

The latest crime figures taken from the nation policing web site (click) show a stable picture in York.

A lot of effort has gone into making the City centre safer and this shows with a slight downward trend in crime reports during the last 12 months. The number of reports each month varies between 450 and 550. The largest number of incidents were reported in December 2018 so all eyes will be on the figures for last month when they become available.

Anti-social behaviour accounts for 34% of the reports. This is in line with the popular conception that the City centre can be a rowdy environment at times.

Looking at the area outside the centre, which includes a large rural neighbourhood, crime reports have averaged around 1300 a month over the last year.

Anti social behaviour again is the most frequent report (31%) but is closely followed by “violence and sexual offences” (26%). The latter is mainly domestic disagreements.

A lot of historic information is available at a more local level.

In the Westfield Ward crime reports average around 150 a month. Reports peak in the summer months.

Anti social behaviour (33%) and violence (28%) are the biggest issues. 10% of reports concern criminal damage (vandalism, graffiti etc) and arson.

A graph of crime reports in Westfield (left), prepared 5 years ago, shows a very similar volume of issues.

The Police are currently recruiting additional officers and PCSOs in North Yorkshire.

Feeling safer? Tell it to Rod

Safer York web site is still out of date

The York Council is reviewing the effectiveness of its “Safer York” partner at a meeting next week. A biannual report has been tabled

Anyone wondering what the safer York Partnership does will no doubt head for the Councils web site., It has a page with 8 lines devoted to the organisation https://www.york.gov.uk/info/20152/community_safety/1361/safer_york_partnership

The web site provides a hot link to the partnerships own web site. http://www.saferyorkpartnership.co.uk/

Anyone following this link may be disappointed to find that the site hasn’t been updated for 2 years!

So, back to the report on its activities.

Councillors will be told that “due to changes in the way police data is supplied to local authorities and the introduction of tighter data access control, CYC no longer routinely receives data recorded by the Police”!

Key priorities are identified as

Road & River Safety
Keeping the City Centre
Protecting People from Harm
Tackling Anti-social Behaviour
Serious Organised Crime
Tackling Substance Misuse Public Health

The report does, however, go on to report some good news.

Our surveys reveal that anti-social behaviour remains one of the key concerns with the rise of the “moped gang” spotlighted by many respondents.

The SYP report concentrates on the York city centre. It says, “Although there remains a perception that alcohol related anti-social behaviour has increased, there was a 14% reduction between 2016 and 2017 and an 11% reduction between 2017 and 2018. Much of the behaviour which is highlighted in media reports is low level nuisance rather than criminal and this is addressed through high visibility patrols by the police, BID Rangers and CYC Neighbourhood Enforcement Team”.

The report says, “There has been an increase in the number of needles found in public areas within the city centre”.

One unexpected note of caution is sounded, on the subject of buskers.

“The Neighbourhood Enforcement team have planned Saturday afternoon joint patrols with Make It York with the purpose of engaging with all buskers in the city centre and to ask them not to hand their microphones to members of the public.

All buskers will be provided with a laminated card they can show the public which states that they are not permitted by CYC or MIY to hand over their microphone in the interest of reducing noise nuisance and ASB”.

Unfortunately the crime stats reported are not up to date

Campaign launched to reduce anti social behaviour

Cllr Sheena Jackson points out a damaged cycle barrier

Problems with anti social behaviour usually increase at this time of year but recently problems have reached new levels.

A cycle barrier at the entrance to the Thanet Road sports are was knocked over last week. Although there were signs of corrosion on part of the barrier, the responsibility has been placed at the feet of vandals. A temporary barrier is being installed this week,.

Elsewhere in the Foxwood area, noisy mopeds and cars trying to do hand break turns on amenity areas have been reported. We would expect that the police – who didn’t attend a residents association meeting yesterday – will be able to deal quickly with vehicle related issues like these.

Anyone spotting anti social behaviour or potential vehicle offences should report them to 101.

NB. The number of Police officers in the area has reduced over recent years. Crime levels are creeping up.

Anti social behaviour on the increase. Residents urged to complete policing survey

click

We’ve commented before, that the number of high profile PCSO patrols in the area does have an effect on anti social behaviour problems.

With lighter nights, and dry weather, now with us problems are increasing.

There have been more problems recently particularly in the Foxwood area where misuse of mopeds has become endemic in at least the Bellhouse Way area.

It is a similar picture in Chapelfields, where a poll currently being undertaken by LibDem Councillors has revealed that “moped gangs” are now the most serious crime issue on the estate.

71% say they are a problem.

Its clear though that the local police force simply don’t have enough officers to be able to offer reassurance patrols as often as residents would like.

There is still time to respond to the Police and Crime Commissioners survey on neighbourhood policing. It is she who ultimately is responsible for Police budgets in York and North Yorkshire.

It is she who will have to allocate more resources to tackle neighbourhood issues.

Residents should make these points when they respond to the survey. Click here

It is also vitally important that residents, who witness anti social behaviour of any kind, do report the issue to the police (via 101)

LibDem Councillor highlights concerns about anti social behaviour in west York

Cllr Ashley Mason continued to closely scrutinise the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) at yesterdays North Yorkshire Police & Crime Panel.

The PCC agreed with Cllr Mason that work was needed to review neighbourhood policing in York, following public concerns.

Because of these concerns, a public meeting for residents and community leaders has been organised to raise issues with the Deputy Chief Constable on the 19^th December, at West Offices, York (see below).

We have seen a more effective police presence in west York over the last few weeks. Offices attended Wednesdays Foxwood Residents Association meeting to provide an update following incidents of vandalism in the area.

The neighbourhood policing team (left) have also been using social media to update residents (left) on the progress they are making.

Thursday’s Police and Crime Panel saw welcomed engagement with younger residents, as students from York College’s Public Services course attended to put questions to the panel. Cllr Mason, who originally suggested to the panel to hold the meeting at York College, was pleased to see young people participating.

Cllr Mason pressed the Commissioner regarding Freedom of Information (FOI) practice at the OPCC and North Yorkshire Police, and additionally, requested an update on the progress of the 101 service.

Given recent negative coverage regarding the Force’s handling of FOI requests and reports of callers suffering delays to speak to operators via the101 service, Cllr Mason felt it fundamental that Julia Mulligan update the public.

Cllr Ashley Mason said:

“We must continue to scrutinise the OPCC and ensure vital police services are maintained to an excellent standard. Recent reports have suggested that this has not been the case and therefore, the OPCC must be upfront and relay this information back to the public they serve. Services such 101 are hugely important to the local community and I will continue to push for better standards.

I was also delighted to see students from York College at Thursday’s Panel, having originally requested that the Panel increase its engagement with younger residents. It is so important that young people are heard at the local level and I will continue to amplify their voice where possible in all areas of my council duties.”

Residents can attend the public meeting on the 19^th December at 6pm. There is no need to pre-book, simply attend West Offices. For further details, please contact Cllr Mason on cllr.amason@york.gov.uk