Public urged to have their say to make York and North Yorkshire safer for all

Jo Coles, York and North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, is calling on the public to share their views on violence and community safety in York and North Yorkshire. This year’s survey also includes specific questions about violence against women and girls. 

Anyone who has been a victim of violence, felt unsafe or been affected by violent crime can take part in the survey to help improve services and support going forward.

The survey is open until Friday 4 July 2025 and can be accessed here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ViolenceSurvey

Data shows that between April to September 2024, serious violence fell by 10% in York and North Yorkshire compared to the same period in the previous year. This year’s survey will  be used to continue to improve support to victims and to reduce violence in the future.

Under the Serious Violence Duty introduced by the Government in January 2023, the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has a statutory duty to convene partners to address levels of violence. The partnership includes North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, probation services, North Yorkshire Council, City of York Council and the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board. The partnership published the first Serious Violence Strategy in January 2024, and it is renewed each year.

 Jo Coles, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime said:

“Everyone has the right to feel safe. Serious violence devastates victims’ lives. Although our levels of serious violence in York and North Yorkshire are relatively low, each case is devastating for victims and causes huge damage to our communities.

“The new Government has committed to halve serious violence, including knife crime. To make sure we’re in the best position to reduce levels of violence in our communities it’s really important we have an accurate picture of how these issues are currently affecting people.

 “So if you can, please take a few minutes of your time to let us know how safe you feel in your communities and if you’ve been a victim of crime over the last 12 months.

During Knife Crime Awareness Week 2025 there was a focus on empowering young people to make safe choices and resist peer pressure. In York and North Yorkshire, schools, community groups, and local services have taken part in educational workshops and awareness events to highlight the dangers of knife crime and promote safer communities.

Following the successful trial of a knife bin in Harrogate, which has seen more than 1,800 bladed items handed in since January 2024, another 20 bins are now being sited in Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Northallerton, Stokesley, Thirsk, Tadcaster, Selby, Malton, Pickering, Scarborough, Whitby, Colburn, Richmond, Skipton and York. 130 knives have been reported to have been surrendered in Skipton, the third busiest in the region, and 51 have been surrendered in Settle. North Yorkshire Police’s website includes an interactive map with locations and information about the knife bins.

Additional information

The definition of serious violence for York and North Yorkshire reflects issues identified within the local area, and the impact and prevalence of different types of serious violence.

Therefore, the following crimes are included in our definition of serious violence and were used to inform our Serious Violence Strategy: homicide; violence with injury (attempted murder, endangering life, grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm, administering poison with intent to injure, non-fatal strangulation and suffocation); domestic abuse; rape and sexual offences; weapon related violence, including weapon possession; arson endangering life; and stalking and harassment.

Violence against women and girls includes crimes such as domestic abuse, rape, sexual violence, abuse and exploitation, and stalking which most often affect women and girls and are typically committed by men. However, it’s vital to ensure all voices of victims of violence, no matter who they are, are listened to and believed. Men, boys, and non-binary people can also be victims, and women can be perpetrators too.

The Mayor’s Police and Crime Plan for 2025 – 2029, launched on 31 March, sets out the strategic direction of North Yorkshire Police by identifying four key priorities over the next four years, these are:

·       Focus on Prevention and Early Intervention
Tackling the root causes of crime in York and North Yorkshire through education, community programmes, and early intervention to prevent crime before it occurs and intervene early when it does.

·       Protect the Public
Protecting the public of York and North Yorkshire and improving trust and confidence in policing by focusing on specific crime outcomes/themes that the public said were most important.

·       Work with Partners
Working with our partners to ensure a collaborative approach to identifying and protecting the most vulnerable people in York and North Yorkshire and to ensure all victims of crime receive appropriate care and support.

·       Build Stronger Communities
Focusing on creating safer communities throughout York and North Yorkshire through proactive policing, partnerships with local organisations, and community engagement. 

Useful Links:

Read more about our 2025 Serious Violence Strategy

Read more about our 2024 Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy

 

Nominations for this year's Community Awards are OPEN!!!

Nomination Forms are available in pdf or word format, hard copies are available for collection from the library, or you can request a form by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Click here for Guidance Notes

 

'No Mow May'

The project to encourage and support wildflower growth on the verges is in support of the North York Moors National Park’s Grubs Up! project.

GrubsUp! aims to restore, enhance and connect precious habitat for invertebrates, increase species abundance and boost resilience in the face of climate change. The project has a community focus, bringing together both people and places with nature.

Road verges

Areas of road verge, away from junctions and sight lines, make fantastic grassland habitats if they can be left to grow long until flowers have had chance to set seed. We have funding to enhance the diversity of verges through the addition of native wildflower and grass seed where appropriate, to create a connective corridor for pollinators.

Click here for more information.