A REPORT by the University of York Security Services has revealed that crime on Campus has fallen by 28% this year.
There were 52 crimes reported between October and February this year, down from 73 last year.
Criminal damage saw the greatest fall: from 14 to just four cases. Burglaries fell from 12 to seven. In other areas, the changes have been less dramatic.
The University has responded positively to the new figures and highlighted their active role in the reduction.
Press Officer David Garner stated, “security has staged a series of workshops to give students help and advice on crime prevention. The response from students has been positive – quick thinking by a student in reporting suspicious activity in the Halifax College area resulted in the apprehension of one youth and the recovery of three stolen bicycles.”
Bike theft accounts for 60% of the crimes on campus this academic year. Numbers have been decreasing; a police initiative, Operation Spoke, concluded there had been a 55% reduction between 2010 and 2011, but the trend is slowing down.
In February 2012, cases were down to 32 from 35, showing that more must be done if numbers are to fall further.
YUSU Welfare Officer Bob Hughes commented to Vision that, “it is great news to hear that crime rates are going down, but we must still remain vigilant and make sure that we keep working to reduce them further. ”
“There are many more projects that YUSU, the University and the wider city will be working on to reduce this further, such as ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ schemes for areas with high student numbers.”
The reduction of campus crime mirrors an overall reduction in crime in the city of York. The York County Sheriff Annual report shows a decrease by 256 reported criminal acts from 2010 to 2011.
Similarly, records show that crime in York has been decreasing steadily since 2005. This year York was ranked fourth in the Complete University Guide’s “How Safe is Your City” ranking.
Chief Inspector Dave Hannon, commented: “This is no time for complacency. The police will do everything in its power to keep our communities safe.”