Police force axes rural outreach service due to lack of interest (From York Press)

Police force axes rural outreach service due to lack of interest

8:38am Saturday 26th January 2013 in News By Dan Bean, dan.bean@thepress.co.uk

A MOBILE service set up by North Yorkshire Police to reach residents in rural communities has been axed by the force due to a lack of interest.

The Route 4 You service was introduced in September 2009 to give villagers in rural communities the chance to meet their local officers on a regular basis.

The scheme saw officers sent to 33 villages in the Selby area at regular times each month.

The force said the service had been put “on hold due to limited demand from the community”, and would no longer be available from the end of March.

Inspector Richard Abbot, of Selby Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “When we launched the Route 4 You service it was hoped that more people would take advantage of the opportunity to meet their local officers.

“Following a review, it emerged that the service wasn’t being used on a regular basis by our rural communities, therefore we have put alternative arrangements in place.

“There are many other ways to contact us, such as at regular police surgeries, via the 101 number or by email.

“I can assure rural residents in Selby District that we still aim to be as accessible to them as we possibly can be and reducing crime in those areas is a priority.”

Officers and members of the Safer Neighbourhood Team will still visit many of the rural villages covered by the Route 4 You initiative with the mobile library service, and can be contacted through the North Yorkshire Police website northyorkshire.police.uk

Alternatively, residents can report a crime by phoning 101, or 999 in an emergency, or anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.