Sergeant Ed Noble takes charge of Safer Neighbourhood Team (From York Press)

Sergeant Ed Noble takes charge of York West Safer Neighbourhood Team

9:57am Friday 1st June 2012 in News By Jennifer Bell, jennifer.bell@thepress.co.uk

THE NEW man in charge of keeping the west of York safe has pledged to target antisocial behaviour, drink-driving and burglaries – as new figures show its crime levels have fallen by a quarter.

Sergeant Ed Noble has taken the helm of North Yorkshire Police’s York West Safer Neighbourhood Team after his predecessor, Sergeant Iain Sirrell, switched to a new role at the force’s HQ.

His appointment comes as York West Safer Neighbourhood Team Inspector Neil Drummond revealed to The Press that crime and antisocial behaviour incidents for the past few months had come down by 25 per cent year on year.

Insp Drummond said the falling number of burglaries and repeat offenders committing crimes in the area had been among the positive results the team had secured in the past year.

He said: “The message has been quite clear for criminals who commit crime here. We will come looking for you and we will knock on your door and your family’s door every day until you are caught.”

Sgt Noble moves into the York policing role after a year as a Detective Sergeant with Harrogate CID.

He said his aim would be to build on the success story.

Sgt Noble spent six years in the police force, mainly in Harrogate.

He said: “The team I have inherited is a great one and I am delighted to be here.

“To come here and work with such an experienced team in this community is something I am very enthusiastic about.”

Sgt Noble said while crime was generally low, his key focus would be to target anti-social behaviour, crack down on drink-drivers and to focus on keeping burglaries down – a problem which has improved over the last year but can shoot up in the summer months.

Sgt Noble said people tended to leave their windows and doors open or unlocked with the hot weather, allowing opportunist thieves to strike.

He is also keen to remind local residents of the importance of communicating with their local policing team so issues can be acted upon.

The York West Safer Neighbourhood Team can be contacted on the non-emergency 101 number.