A YORK boating group has called for better security if plans to increase the use of waterways and riverbanks in the city go ahead.

Glyn Morris, president of York Motor Yacht Club, told members of City of York Council's leisure scrutiny board last night that "sub-criminal and criminal activities" on the riverbanks were already putting people's lives at risk and that risk was sure to increase if more people made use of the rivers Ouse, Foss and Derwent.

Mr Morris told members that boaters had recently been shot at with air rifles and been targeted by makeshift missiles and that people jumping from bridges into the water was also a big risk.

He said the police had not been informed, but he was urging his members to report any further incidents.

He said: "If we have situations where we increase the number of people using the riverbanks these activities are going to become increasing problems.

"If we progressively find more people enjoying the river banks there's going to be that minority that's going to spoil it for other people."

Although in favour of improving the waterways, increasing moorings and making better use of the rivers, Mr Morris said better monitoring of the riverbanks was also necessary and it had to be made clear who was in charge of policing river-based activities.

Sergeant Colin Ventress, of York Police, said today that he was not surprised by Mr Morris's claims, but urged boat owners to report all incidents to police.

He said police received occasional reports of items being dropped on passing boats, and every year they were called to bridges where people had been jumping into the water.

Updated: 11:06 Thursday, March 27, 2003