A huge rise in reports of anti-social behaviour have been reported in York.
New figures show that the city has already recorded 6,968 incidents in the first nine months of 2020/21.
That compares to 6,415 in the whole of 2019/20.
The figures are revealed in documents for a council meeting today (Monday). Joint council and police enforcement investigations were also revealed in the report.
One investigation into commercial waste disposal offences at Clifton Caravan Park resulted in a city centre barber being fined £300.
Travellers camped on Bootham Stray also paid a £300 fine for a ‘waste duty of care offence’ as part of a wider investigation into fly-tipping on the land during their stay.
Council enforcement officers investigated a man who had verbally abused police in York city centre. “The same man subsequently went on to be seen by council CCTV littering and urinating in public. He was prosecuted and fined in excess of £500 for urinating in public and littering,” says the report.
Dog owner targeted
The report also reveals new methods used to target anti-social behaviour, including mediation and restorative justice.
After a dog was attacked and injured, officers tracked down the owner of the animal involved who agreed to pay the vets’ fees and keep their own dog on a short lead and muzzled in public.
Other statistics revealed in the report include:
- 171 warning letters, seven abatement notices and one simple caution were issued for domestic noise
- 15 warning letters, five fixed penalty notices and two cautions have been issued for fly tipping
- four simple cautions and one prosecution has been issued for street urination.
North Yorkshire Police said “it would be inappropriate to comment” on the figures revealed in the report ahead of the meeting.
The housing and community safety policy and scrutiny committee takes place at 5.30pm today (Monday). You can watch it live on the City of York Council YouTube page.