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Leah’s family launch campaign to install CCTV on York’s river banks to keep others safe

Tue 3 Oct 2023 @ 1:23pm - News
YorkMix

Balloons left in memory of Leah on Terry Avenue, York. Photographs: YorkMix

The family of York teenager Leah Bedford have launched a campaign to install riverside CCTV cameras to help prevent another tragedy.

Leah, 16, died after entering the River Ouse.

She was last caught on CCTV close to the water on Lendal Bridge on 20 September. But after that, there was no sighting of her.

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Police divers recovered her body from near Terry Avenue last Thursday (28 September).

Balloons, candles and flowers have been left close to the spot where she was found. Poignant messages read: “I love you loads. Forever 16. Till we meet again”, and “We all miss you so much. You were gone too soon.”

Leah’s aunt Jayne Reynolds has now set up a petition: “Make it law to install CCTV all the way down the river banks”.

It is on change.org and you can sign it here.

Jayne told YorkMix: “We asked the police liaison officer, what happened to Leah? And nobody could tell us what happened.

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“Because there’s only CCTV footage from one part of the bridge and not for the rest.

“This is why I’ve started a petition – because a lot more needs to be done for the safety of anybody that’s got mental health problems and who’s got suicidal thoughts.”

At the time of publication nearly 700 people had signed the petition.

Comments included: “It’ll spare more heartache on the River Ouse as it’s a very unforgiving river and has claimed so many lives – some of which could’ve been stopped with the help of more CCTV on every part of the river not just the city centre.”

Meanwhile, John Main has launched a GoFundMe fundraising page for Leah.

He is running the Yorkshire 10 Miles on Sunday 15 October in her memory.

“I am hoping to raise sufficient funds to take the financial worries off Leah’s family with funeral costs,” he said.

“No father should have to bury a child let alone worry about where the money will come from.”

At the time of writing the campaign had already raised £2,135 of a £5,000 target.

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Tue 3 Oct, 2023

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