York’s falling crime rates are a 'good example' (From York Press)

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York’s falling crime rates are a 'good example'

11:42am Thursday 27th March 2008

comment Comments (11) Have your say »

By Gavin Aitchison »

CIVIC chiefs have hailed York's falling crime rates, and say the city is now cited as a shining example across the country.

Terry Collins, City of York Council's director of neighbourhood services, said work between the council and police had yielded "outstanding" results.

Council leader Steve Galloway said: "The Safer York Partnership is one of the things we are most proud of in our achievements over the past three to four years."

But he warned against complacency, saying: "The more you achieve, the greater people's expectations, and we will have to embrace new ideas.

"I would be disappointed if people did not recognise the situation - that York is one of the safest cities in the country."

He was speaking in response to a report on the Safe City issue in York, which was presented to the council executive this week.

Coun Andrew Waller said York was now held up as an example of good practice.

He said: "People in the Home Office are signposting York as the place to look at. There is no greater confidence in the community that the right information will get to the right place."

Coun Sue Galloway said: "We are now seeing a greater number of people wanting to get involved in sorting things out.

"In our area, community support officers are seen as vital and they have really got a very good customer focus."

Between April 2007 and this month, crime has fallen nine per cent compared to the preceding 12 months.

Police have outlined various ways the council can help them make further improvements, including providing desk space in buildings such as schools and libraries, and helping with more community consultation.

Councillors also discussed the possible introduction of speed cameras in York.

As reported in The Press, mobile cameras are expected to be favoured over fixed ones.

A police report into the issue is set to be finalised within days.

Have your say

Do you feel that crime in York is falling?

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Captain Jack Sparrow, Strensall says...
11:45am Thu 27 Mar 08

Yorks falling reported crime rates are a 'good example' By Gavin Aitchison

There's lies, **** lies and statistics.

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Mike C, york says...
12:08pm Thu 27 Mar 08

"crime has fallen nine per cent compared to the preceding 12 months" Could we have a breakdown of this? If it follows the pattern of other cities, you may find burglaries and car thefts decreasing (perhaps because of anti-crime technology) but assaults with a weapon increasing. And what's counted as a crime - if I ring up saying youths are vandalising something, is that recorded as a crime, or only if I'm really persistent? Whatever, we need a fuller picture.

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The Bandit, York says...
12:41pm Thu 27 Mar 08

Is crime actually falling or is it just a case of people are so fed up of the police doing sod all, that acts of vandalism etc. simply go unreported? Judging by the regular amount of car damage on my street, I know which trend I believe.

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Dick Turpin, Malton says...
12:42pm Thu 27 Mar 08

This will only lead to a number of things, a reduction in Police and Staff, a reduction in the grant from Central Government and an increase in the Police Precept on our council tax.

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Beryl, York says...
12:46pm Thu 27 Mar 08

Maybe someone should show this to the man in Haxby who was threatened at knifepoint at Barclays. I dont think he'd agree with that article.

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Lt.Dobie, Wormhole says...
12:57pm Thu 27 Mar 08

I heard that just before this report was published, Barnitt's had sold out of head-sized buckets and sand. Apparently on a contract to CYC and the rozzers.

Go figure?!?!?

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ILK, York says...
1:07pm Thu 27 Mar 08

I think a lot less people are reporting minor crime nowadays because it's half expected (unfortunately)and also it's unlikely that the police will be able to do anything about it, hence the 'crime is falling statistics'. But I do think that York is a safe city in comparison to other cities such as Leeds, where a crime such as an assault or being threatened at knife point might be lucky to get a couple of lines in the centre pages of the local paper, as opposed to the front page of The Yorkshire Evening Press.

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Bemused, says...
1:39pm Thu 27 Mar 08

Yobs still run wild

By Jenny Bell
1:06pm Monday 18th February 2008
YOBS are still plaguing residents in Huntington despite letters being sent to parents asking them to keep their children under control.

Street fights, damaged vehicles and under-age drinking are just some of the offences that prompted police to write to parents demanding they control their children...

During the past few weeks, officers have seen a surge in calls about antisocial behaviour in the Heworth and Huntington areas of York and Sergeant John Freer, of the Safer Neighbourhood Team for Heworth, Huntington and New Earswick took the step of writing directly to parents - demanding they control and monitor their children's behaviour....

It's a comfort to know the North York Police Farce are on top of the job. Trouble, it's never been the case in the real world that the pen is mightier than the handcuffs.

If crime rates are down it's definitely because the public realise full well that reporting crime is a waste of time, and the quoted story is why.

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Cyber-Dyne systems model 101, The future says...
1:51pm Thu 27 Mar 08

"I would be disappointed if people did not recognise the situation - that York is one of the safest cities in the country."

Proportionately York, in my opinion is one of the safest cities I am currently aware of.

Now thats not to say that we all dont have our odd horror stories, but when compared to the likes of Leeds, Manchester and London where there is a murder every 30 mintues, it puts some perspective on the problem.

I'd say it was wrong to say crime is falling, maybe they are just recording the stats in a different manner to last time???

Over the last few months, there has been far more low level anti-social crime in and around the streets I live in, and while the odd burglary plagues all areas at some point, this constant, none stop low level crime is far more annoying.

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LibDem, York says...
5:06pm Thu 27 Mar 08

Mike C wrote:
"crime has fallen nine per cent compared to the preceding 12 months" Could we have a breakdown of this? If it follows the pattern of other cities, you may find burglaries and car thefts decreasing (perhaps because of anti-crime technology) but assaults with a weapon increasing. And what's counted as a crime - if I ring up saying youths are vandalising something, is that recorded as a crime, or only if I'm really persistent? Whatever, we need a fuller picture.

House burglary -7%
Other burglary -12%
All violence -3%
Common assault +3%
Wounding -20%
Personal robbery -7%
Other robbery -46%
Theft of vehicle -21%
Theft from vehicle -27%
Vehicle interference -42%
Criminal damage -12%
Theft of pedal cycle -14%
Total crime reduction -9%

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Nil-desperandum, Calcaria says...
5:24pm Thu 27 Mar 08

Given that the Prison service is at breaking point, despite 7 new prisons being built since 2002, maybe there is an element of truth behind this. So, unless the criminals have had a change of heart and have been turning up at the prison gates seeking atonement for thier crimes, someone somewhere must be doing something right. The Police? The Courts? the Tooth fairy? You figure it out.

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