Cracking down on Mischief mayhem

9:20am Monday 5th November 2007

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MORE than 70 police officers were on the streets last night to crack down on Mischief Night yobs.

And, at the time of going to press, police and the fire service had not reported any incidents above and beyond those of a normal weekend.

As reported in The Press last week, police launched a huge operation to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour on Hallowe'en, Mischief Night and Bonfire Night.

Extra police officers, community support officers, special constables and sergeants went out on special patrols across York last night as part of Operation Carbene.

Officers from the British Transport Police and the Ministry of Defence were also drafted in for support.

Sergeant Donna Musgrove, who leads the dedicated neighbourhood policing team covering Haxby, Strensall, Rawcliffe, Skleton and Clifton Moor and Clifton Without, said mobile police stations had been set up in Rawcliffe and Clifton to increase the force's visibility and reassure residents.

She was on patrol with PC Alex Dobson, along with other PCs, police community support officers and special constables.

"We're patrolling, looking at groups of youths, seeing what they're doing and providing a high-visibility presence," she said.

She said a minority of youths caused the vast majority of problems. "On Friday, three of our main usual offenders were in custody by 9pm," she said. "The sooner you deal with offenders and take them off the streets the better. It sends a message that they will be brought to justice.

"We're very fair, but also exceptionally firm."

She said they had had no major incidents last night, just dealing with a small number of minor disturbances from youths.

Firefighter Rich Hanley, green watch manger at York station, said they had had no major Mischief Night-related callouts. "It's been fairly quiet until now, but there have been a few organised bonfires and I wouldn't expect it to be busy during those."

Last year, on November 4, firefighters came under attack from yobs firing rockets in New Earswick as they battled to put out a car fire caused by arsonists.

An appliance was stationed in the model village last night to deter troublemakers.

At Huntington last year, a frightened pensioner and her furious son told how arsonists could have burned her to death through an idiotic prank on Mischief Night in which their car was torched as it stood only inches away from their bungalow.