Safety first priority for York residents

4:31pm Thursday 5th June 2008

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A CAMPAIGN to make York's residents feel safer has been launched following the success of a similar initiative last year.

Following the success of the 2007 Feeling And Being Safe In York campaign, City of York Council's neighbourhood services directorate is once again leading a six-week programme of initiatives designed to promote community safety in the city.

Over the last three years, York has experienced some significant drops in crime, which is down by 38 per cent overall against a target of 24.1 per cent.

Terry Collins, director of neighbourhood services and vice-chairman of the Safer York Partnership Board, said: "The strength of partnership between the council, police and other agencies to tackle crime and disorder is evident in these results.

"But we can't afford to become complacent and will continue to work together to ensure that York remains once of the safest cities in the UK."

Safer York Partnership has recently published its new three-year crime and disorder reduction strategy.

After looking at information from its members and asking the public for its views, Safer York has set itself these key targets for the next three years:

* Safer neighbourhoods - tackling the antisocial behaviour problems that most worry local people, increasing public confidence in the local agencies involved in dealing with issues, reducing fear of crime and antisocial behaviour and increasing feelings of safety within our communities* Violent crime - to protect communities in York from violent crime, particularly that which is alcohol-related* Drugs and alcohol - to work closely with the Drug and Alcohol Action Team to protect communities from the harm caused by drugs and alcohol* Continue to reduce "acquisitive" crime such as theft by identifying local areas suffering the most, and targeting the most prolific offenders.