A CITY of York Councillor has joined police on patrol in the city centre.

Councillor Tracey Simpson-Laing spent five hours with police during a night shift in York on last Friday, as part of the city’s summer safety campaign Plan Safe, Drink Safe, Home Safe.

Today, Coun Simpson-Laing will join the council’s Environmental Protection Unit on a planned visit to York Racecourse to monitor and assess noise levels at an open-air concert, and later this summer will attend food safety and trading standards inspections and warrant executions.

She said: "First hand experience of the challenges faced by the city’s enforcement teams is invaluable in assessing our priorities. Being on patrol with North Yorkshire Police in action was a tremendous insight into how the force handles situations including aspects of alcohol and domestic violence in York. As I’m the chair of York Domestic Violence Board that was a valuable experience."