In York, the Street Rangers patrollers have been given some police-style powers. North Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Lisa Winward signed off on the powers to eight staff, who are employed by the York-based guarding contractor Eboracum UK Ltd and work as York Business Improvement District (BID) Street Rangers.
For North Yorkshire Police, York Commander, Supt Lindsey Robson, said: “Tackling antisocial behaviour benefits everyone and improves our communities greatly, so it makes sense to take all the steps we can to reduce it. These powers have actually existed for a long time and are used to complement the work of our police officers and PCSOs.
“They are only granted if the Chief Constable is satisfied that they will be used appropriately and proportionally. York is already a very safe place, and by granting Street Rangers selected powers we can keep the millions of people who visit the city centre every year even safer.”
The eight Street Rangers will be able to:
Require someone to give their name and address if they believe they are acting in an anti-social manner.
Stop cyclists riding illegally on the footpath.
Control traffic if required, such as allowing an ambulance better access.
Require someone to give their name and address for a road traffic offences, assault or criminal damage.
Carl Nickson, Managing Director of Eboracum UK Ltd, said: “This accreditation further professionalises our partnership with the police. Following in the footsteps of CSAS schemes in other parts of the country, it provides the York BID Street Rangers with low-level but useful tools to assist in the reduction of anti-social behaviour.
“I am extremely proud of the positive progress made with the Street Ranger programme and feel privileged to have received this accreditation.”
The option to delegate powers was first granted to police forces in 2002 under the Police Reform Act. The authority does not extend to the power of arrest. The powers are due to run for 12 months, before review by North Yorkshire Police.
It’s not the only city example of non-North Yorkshire Police being formally brought into the ‘wider policing family’; the constables of York Minster in 2017 were ‘attested’ and given the power of arrest inside the Minster and its precinct, which in recent years has had anti-ram blocks and bollards placed outside to deter vehicles used as a weapon. Pictured, similar blocks recently added in York City centre, at the junction of Coppergate, Parliament Street and Piccadilly.
