Agenda item

Sgt Jon Asvadi will present the police priorities for the new year and update on what’s happening in the ward

3.                  Sgt Jon Asvadi updated the residents on the latest policing priorities and work been done in the ward.

3.1   Crime figures to date are much reduced, the figures were displayed for the meeting and were recorded as below

3.2   The figure for thefts is high in the Guildhall ward as there are lots of retail premises

3.3   Cycle theft is being targeted in the ward, operation spoke is running which provides security measures for cycle owners. Cycles are marked and recorded on the immobilise website.

3.4   A question was asked - how police select people to stop on cycles? This is largely down to intuition and recognising people known to the police.

3.5    The operation has been publicised on the Safer York Partnership website, the police website and through The Press.

3.6   The aim for the operation is to get 10,000 bikes marked and registered.

3.7   PCSO have the power to stop cycles and carry out the checks.

3.8   Cyclists riding without lights and riding on footpaths have been targeted recently, this has resulted in fifty tickets and fifty verbal warnings issued. Patrols are continuing in the ward to help target these issues.

3.9   Shop theft is a serious issue in the ward, operation discount is aimed at reducing incidents.

3.10         Beggers are to be individually focused on as previous methods have not worked. ASBO’s will be applied for so orders ban beggers from locating in certain areas.

3.11         Graffiti in Walmgate is to be targeted, using the Taggi website identifying tags will hopefully lead to more prosecutions. Clean ups will be run using Community Payback.

3.12         PC Richard Gatecliffe has recently joined the team and will be working in the Walmgate area of the ward.

Residents were given the opportunity to raise questions and concerns, the following were raised.

a)                 Why do business owners in Patrick Pool get away with parking illegally when there is enough pay parking for everyone in York?

-Sgt Asvadi took details and explained he would deal with the matter outside of the meeting.

b)                 My bike was registered using the operation spoke but I have not received the email from immobilise yet, is there a problem?

-There have been teething problems with some of the registrations getting onto the immobilise site but they are all registered with the police and will eventually make it onto the immobilise site.

Jason Wallis was given the opportunity to outline measures put in place by the university to try and reduce issue of noise and nuisance related to the university. The following was mentioned.

3.13        Night marshals have been trialled to target issues related to the university.

3.14        The feedback from residents has been encouraging.

3.15        The are proposals to roll out the schemes next year, although coverage won’t be provided every night as the trial identified key times.

3.16        A booklet is being produced to inform students on living within a community and being a good neighbour.

3.17        A proposed community rep scheme used in other areas is being looked into, this would provide night marshalling run by students.

Residents were given opportunity to raise questions.

a)                 Can anything be done about the nine student properties on St John Street which are causing issues? Piles of cans in gardens etc.

-The university can provide education on proper waste presentation and refuse collections, but can’t act directly as the rubbish is on private property. Measures to inform the landlord will be taken.