Police seek help following Cornlands Road assault

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses and information about an assault that occurred on Cornlands Road in York.

It happened at 10.30am on Thursday 12 April 2018  when the victim, a 32-year-old local woman, was stood at the bus stop.

She was approached by a man on a bicycle who told her to give him a cigarette. He grabbed her by the right forearm and told her to give him her mobile phone.

The First York number 4 bus then arrived and the victim got on. She was uninjured and did not lose any of her property during the incident.

At this time no arrests have been made.

We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

In particular, we are appealing for information about the identity of the male suspect.

He is described as white, approximately 5ft 6in tall, dark-brown shaggy hair with a bit of a fringe which didn’t reach his eyebrows, skinny build, a gaunt face which shows his cheekbones, dark eyebrows and brown staining on his teeth as if he was a heavy smoker.

He was wearing a white Superdry jacket with blue jeans which had a rip in them, which the victim thinks was on the left knee, and  brown leather-style shoes. He spoke with a local York accent and he was riding a black battered mountain bike.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Andrew Copeland. You can also email Andrew.Copeland@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 12180061935.

Contact details:
Leon Dryden – #0090
Andrew.Copeland@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk | 30090
Incident reference:
12180061935

Community police numbers drop by more than half in York

Front line PCSO numbers have dropped by more than half in York since 2016.

PCSO’s passing out in 2014

Liberal Democrat Councillor Ashley Mason, who is currently serving as the Vice Chair to the Police & Crime Panel, recently submitted a Freedom of Information request to North Yorkshire Police Force. He wanted to kow the number of community police officers patrolling the streets of the City

In response, Cllr Mason was told that there are currently 25 front line PCSO’s in York.

This compares to 64 in 2016.

Cllr Mason had also requested the figures for the last 10 years, but unfortunately, was told that this information was not recorded.

This revelation comes amidst growing concerns that the fall in police numbers, due to Government cuts, has lead to increases in crimes throughout England. Although this has been denied by Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, a leaked report from her own department, has suggested reductions in police numbers were “likely” to have led to the increase.

Earlier this year, PCC Julia Mulligan promised to look into the neighbourhood policing system in York, after many local councillors expressed concerns about the lack of local officers in their communities.

Councillor Ashley Mason, Liberal Democrat and Vice Chair of the Police & Crime Panel:

“PCSOs are a vital link between the police and the communities they serve.  To loose so many over two years is shocking.”

“It is interesting to see that the Police and Crime Commissioner say that numbers high, which suggests that some PCSO’s are being taken away from the City of York.”

“I will be writing to the Police and Crime Commissioner to express my concerns and insist that her review of the force begin as soon as possible”

York Council fraud levels revealed

The Councils auditors are cracking down on Council Tax discounts with 11 cases currently under investigation following a “data matching exercise”.  These concern bogus “single person discount” claims.

A report reveals that the auditors had received 58 referrals for potential Council Tax/Non Domestic Rates fraud.

“There are currently 30 ongoing investigations into Council Tax and non domestic rates fraud.

The council has prosecuted two people for council tax fraud this year including the longest running single person discount fraud ever detected at the authority – 17 years.

In addition, 3 people have been cautioned for council tax fraud offences and 5 people have received warnings”.

The fraud team have completed 26 investigations into potential Council Tax Support fraud to date. The team has produced over £13k in savings thus far. There are currently 32 cases under investigation. To date one person has been cautioned and 10 people were issued formal warnings following investigations in this area.

Other areas of concern are

  • social care where there are 16 investigations in progress.
  • 14 cases of housing fraud – making false claims to secure accommodation – are underway.
  • The financial assistance scheme where 19 cases are being investigated
  • Parking and blue badge misuse. In 2017/18 the council prosecuted two people, cautioned 12 people and issued 30 warnings for disabled badge or parking permit misuse
  • Education – making false statements to gain entry to a school – 2 cases.

The report will be discussed at a meeting taking place on Wednesday

Shock as vandals trash pensioners bus shelter

A bus shelter mainly used by elderly residents  and located on Ascot Way has been trashed. 6 of the windows have been smashed with broken glass now posing a hazard for pedestrians and animals. We are concerned that the Police do not seem to bring many vandals to court so we hope that residents will cooperate in identifying those responsible for this incident.

 

Ascot Way bus shelter trashed

With crime levels on the rise, Crime Commissioner offers to meet residents in Acomb

Residents from Acomb, York and the surrounding area have their chance to their raise concerns about policing or community safety issues when the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, Julia Mulligan, comes to Acomb on Thursday 12 April.

The appointment based surgeries will take place between 3.00pm, and 5.00pm at Acomb Parish Church hall, Front Street, Acomb YO24 3BX, giving residents the opportunity to raise personal or private issues, good or bad, on a one to one basis. Surgeries are by appointment only.

If you would like to book some time with Julia – or for further information about other Surgeries – please call 01423 569 562 or email info@northyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk

 

Crime rising in York

Crime figures for York

Councillors will consider a disturbing report on crime rates in York when they meet next week.

Figures being reported to a scrutiny committee suggest that 11,306 crimes were reported in the City during the first 9 months of the present financial year.

That compares to 11,221 reported in the whole of the previous year.

Detailed anti-social behaviour figures are not yet available but instances of violent crime were on the rise.

Police UK neighbourhood figures paint a similar picture

Crime in west York

In January there were 144 crimes reported in the Westfield Ward. Most of these concerned anti social behaviour

During the preceding year, 52% of crimes concerned anti-social behaviour, 15% violence or sexual behaviour and 12% criminal damage (vandalism).

Crime levels usually fall in the winter, so the underlying trend will only become clear in a couple of months’ time.

CCTV appeal following theft of clothing from Peacocks in Front Street

Police have released CCTV images of two women they would like to speak to regarding the theft of items from Peacocks clothing store on Front Street in Acomb.

At around 12.05pm on Saturday 10 March 2018 the two women pictured entered the store, one woman was carrying a blue rucksack.

 

A number of items of children and adult clothing were removed from the store, without any offer of payment being made.

Anyone who recognises either of the women pictured is asked to contact PC Emily Clark on 101 or email Emily.Clark@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

Please quote reference 12180041400.

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800555111

Irish £5 note thief targets Minster

Further CCTV images of man using counterfeit Bank of Ireland £50 at York Minster issued

Police have released further CCTV pictures of a man they want to speak to regarding the purchase of items using counterfeit Bank of Ireland £50 notes.

Police have released further CCTV pictures of a man they want to speak to regarding the purchase of items using counterfeit Bank of Ireland £50 notes.

The initial appeal for information was in relation to a man police wanted to identify,  after he used counterfeit Bank of Ireland £50 notes to purchase low value goods from a number of shops at Monks Cross Shopping Park in York on Thursday 8 February 2018.

Police enquiries have found that on the same day, the man also used a Bank of Ireland counterfeit £50 note in the York Minster Gift Shop to purchase a low value toy.

Anyone who recognises the man pictured, or has information which could assist the investigation is asked to contact police on 101, select option 2 and ask to speak to Rachel Shaw. Alternatively you can email Rachel.Shaw289@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk – please quote reference 12180025678.

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800555111.

Appeal for witnesses following an assault in Acomb Front Street

11-15 Front Street

Officers are appealing for witnesses and information following an assault in Acomb which happened in the early hours of yesterday, Friday 29 December 2017.

Police received reports of an altercation involving a number of men and women outside Boyes on Front Street Acomb, shortly before 12.40am.

Upon arrival, officers found five men and four women to be involved in the altercation and an assault had also taken place.

A 23 year old man has sustained injuries after being punched and kicked, and a 33 year old man has sustained an injury to his head and hand.

Two men from York, aged 23 and 33, were arrested in connection with the incident. Both men have been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information is asked to contact police. Dial 101, press 2 and ask to speak to York Investigation Hub.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Please quote reference number 12170231267 when passing on any information.

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.