8:24am Thursday 9th September 2010
By Mark Stead
ONE of York’s most senior police officers has defended a crime-busting scheme after a councillor claimed its introduction was “undervaluing” the work of local groups.
The Capable Guardian initiative is being extended across the city following a pilot run in the Westfield ward, with its aim being to unite police, community organisations and residents in cracking down on yobs and antisocial behaviour.
Heworth councillor Ruth Potter, crime spokesperson for City of York Council’s Labour group, claimed the scheme risked alienating people who have already launched their own measures to fight crime in the areas where they live and diminishing their efforts.
Since its trial run in Westfield, Capable Guardian has been extended to cover Dringhouses and Woodthorpe and rolled out to the Heworth and Clifton wards, with Guildhall and Hull Road next on the list.
It is designed to co-ordinate action against local troublemakers, with representatives from the council, York Police’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams, head teachers and North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service all involved.
However, as reported by The Press this week, Coun Potter said its arrival had left residents and groups in some wards feeling “totally undervalued” and “as if they haven’t been doing anything”.
But, Supt Lisa Winward, Safer Neighbourhood Commander for York, said the scheme was creating a more joined-up approach to fighting crime at a local level.
“Capable Guardian has formalised some of the partnership work which has been taking place on these wards for several years now,” she said.
“The meetings which have now been developed under the Capable Guardian banner are continuing with a positive and supportive input from all agencies and members of the community concerned. The police have not received any negative feedback to date regarding this initiative.
“It has enabled the more informal networks and engagement in tackling antisocial behaviour and community concerns to be recognised and attributed to the partners involved, which it is hoped will increase awareness and encourage others to participate as the schemes become embedded.”
Coun Potter’s comments came after Dr Roger Pierce listed his unhappiness with the “top-down imposition” of the scheme as one of his reasons for resigning as a Hull Road councillor last month.
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