Plea to York students in fight against crime (From York Press)

Plea to York students in fight against crime

7:52am Monday 8th October 2012 in News By Jennifer Bell, jennifer.bell@thepress.co.uk

STUDENTS across York are being urged to play their part in the fight against crime and become the eyes and ears of local communities.

York Neighbourhood Watch is pioneering a “student watch” scheme in a bid to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour through community engagement, awareness, education and improved security.

It follows a spike in the number of burglaries across the city.

Students, who often have valuable hi-tech equipment at home such as laptops, mobile phones and televisions, can become an easy target as they are often more likely to leave their homes unsecured with unlocked doors or windows.

Neighbourhood Watch schemes encourage residents to look out for signs of criminal activity in their own area and share this information with their neighbours and local police.

The organisation is now looking for existing schemes to come forward and welcome students moving into their area, in order for them to develop personal contacts with members of the community and a higher level of security.

Neighbourhood watch secretary Thom Wiseman said he hoped that by having students and their neighbours keeping an eye on each other, this “will strengthen ties for the community and reduce crime”.

The University of York has already offered its support to the launch of the scheme Already, 14 representatives have been recruited to help the students become involved and push the scheme forward.

The student watch scheme, which launches this week is the first of its kind and if it proves a success could be rolled out across the country.

For more details about student watch visit yorkwatch.org.uk, email yorkcommunitywatch@yahoo.com or find the group on twitter @yorkwatch.

The York Neighbourhood Watch annual general meeting will be open to the public on Wednesday, October 17, at 7pm in the Guildhall. All are welcome.