New strategy aims to crackdown on crime in York and North Yorkshire

The Serious Violence Response Strategy has a particular focus on York and Scarborough and aims to crackdown on violence against women and girls; crime relating to alcohol, violence and night-time economy; and the possession and use of weapons.

It also seeks to prevent children and young people from becoming involved in serious violence, and raise awareness of how crime can be prevented.

The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority said it worked with its partners – including North Yorkshire Police, City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council – to develop the strategy.

York and North Yorkshire residents also took part in a survey which helped shape the strategy, the combined authority said.

A spokesperson for the combined authority said its partnership with organisations such as the police and council has supported 11 “prevention and early intervention-oriented” projects.

The Serious Violence Response Strategy has a particular focus on York and Scarborough (Image: Newsquest) York and North Yorkshire’s deputy mayor for policing, fire and crime, Jo Coles, said levels of serious violence in York and North Yorkshire are “relatively low” but “each case causes huge damage to our communities”.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe. Serious violence devastates victims’ lives,” she said.

Ms Coles added: “The new Government has committed to half serious violence, including knife crime.

​York and North Yorkshire’s deputy mayor for policing, fire and crime, Jo Coles (Image: Supplied) “In York and North Yorkshire, using this new strategy, we will continue to work closely with partners including the local authorities and North Yorkshire Police to ensure we all do everything we can to get violence off our streets.”

City of York Council’s executive member for safer communities, Cllr Michael Pavlovic, said the strategy is “welcome and reflects our priority areas”, “given the devastation that serious violence inflicts on communities”.

City of York Council’s executive member for safer communities, Cllr Michael Pavlovic (Image: Supplied) He said the strategy’s priority “to reduce serious violence and the significant impact it causes” will result in York becoming “even safer”.

Superintendent Ed Haywood-Noble, chair of the Safer York Partnership, and Chief Superintendent Fiona Willey, chair of the North Yorkshire Community Safety Partnership, also welcomed the strategy.

“Serious violence has a devastating impact on victims, families, and communities across the country and whilst we know that overall North Yorkshire is one of the safest places to live, we can’t be naïve in thinking serious violence doesn’t happen here – we know it does – and people across our county need to feel safe and be kept safe,” they said in a statement.

“As a partnership of committed public sector agencies, North Yorkshire Community Safety Partnership and Safer York Partnership are proud to publish the refreshed North Yorkshire and York Response Strategy in line with the government’s serious violence duty.”