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York becoming overrun with heavy drinking stag and hen parties, locals say York becoming overrun with heavy drinking stag and hen parties, locals say
(35 minutes later)
It was 866 when the Vikings invaded York. The Great Heathen Army marauded through the streets, appalling the natives with their spear-waving, hooch-drinking ways. Over a millennium later and the North Yorkshire city is experiencing another invasion, this time from rather closer to home – though bringing with it the same pong of public urination.It was 866 when the Vikings invaded York. The Great Heathen Army marauded through the streets, appalling the natives with their spear-waving, hooch-drinking ways. Over a millennium later and the North Yorkshire city is experiencing another invasion, this time from rather closer to home – though bringing with it the same pong of public urination.
Nowadays, locals don’t have to worry about being forced to speak Norse – though the air is polluted with language of the bluest hue. And it is inflatable penises they must dodge when navigating the cobbled streets rather than arrows from interloping archers. Nowadays, locals don’t have to worry about being forced to speak Norse – though the air is polluted with language of the bluest hue. And it is inflatable penises they must dodge when navigating the cobbled streets rather than arrows from interloping archers. Because the new enemy is the stag and hen parties who pile on to trains from surrounding regions for all-day drinking sessions each Saturday.
The new enemy: the stag and hen parties who pile on trains from surrounding regions for all day drinking sessions each Saturday in the walled city. On Saturday the front page of the York Press carried a stark warning on its front page, claiming that the city had become a “no-go area”, with “visiting hordes” from South Yorkshire and the north-east to blame. The story quoted “city leaders” from the council, North Yorkshire police and British Transport police, who wrote a letter to pubs and bars saying: “York is no longer viewed as a safe, family-friendly city on a Saturday.”
On Saturday the front page of the York Press carried a stark warning on its front page, claiming that the city had become a “no go area”, with “visiting hoards” from South Yorkshire and the north-east to blame. The story quoted “city leaders” from the council, North Yorkshire police and British Transport police, who wrote a letter to pubs and bars saying: “York is no longer viewed as a safe, family-friendly city on a Saturday.”
On Tuesday, the paper printed a poll that suggested four in five readers were reluctant to visit the city centre on Saturdays, concerned about large unruly groups making a boozy nuisance of themselves in the daytime. It is not a brand new problem: since January 2014 there has been a ban on alcohol consumption on all streets inside York’s walls.On Tuesday, the paper printed a poll that suggested four in five readers were reluctant to visit the city centre on Saturdays, concerned about large unruly groups making a boozy nuisance of themselves in the daytime. It is not a brand new problem: since January 2014 there has been a ban on alcohol consumption on all streets inside York’s walls.
At a lively meeting of about 75 licencees from pubs, bars and clubs at the racecourse on Tuesday, one landlord voiced his ultimate fear. If they were not careful, he told police, York would become “like Blackpool – they don’t even advertise abroad, they’re so ashamed of their reputation”. At a lively meeting of about 75 licensees from pubs, bars and clubs at the racecourse on Tuesday, one landlord voiced his ultimate fear. If they were not careful, he told police, York would become “like Blackpool – they don’t even advertise abroad, they’re so ashamed of their reputation”.
Andrew Knight, 40, who runs a bar called Dust near the river Ouse, said he had noticed a gradual change during his 11 years as a landlord, as ever more stags and hens come to the city instead of causing trouble abroad. Andrew Knight, 40, who runs a bar called Dusk near the river Ouse, said he had noticed a gradual change during his 11 years as a landlord, as ever more stags and hens come to the city instead of causing trouble abroad.
“It’s become a bit more like a holiday destination. Like Magaluf,” he said, referring to the Spanish city that earlier this month introduced a ban on public drinking between 10pm and 8am, as well as fines of up to €3,000 to anyone caught urinating in public, flashing or swimming naked.“It’s become a bit more like a holiday destination. Like Magaluf,” he said, referring to the Spanish city that earlier this month introduced a ban on public drinking between 10pm and 8am, as well as fines of up to €3,000 to anyone caught urinating in public, flashing or swimming naked.
“On a Saturday day the atmosphere in the city centre is unrecognisable from when I was a student here 20 years ago. There’s been a culture shift,” he added. “If my parents come to visit for a weekend now I wouldn’t take them into town for lunch any more – I would on a Sunday but not on a Saturday.”“On a Saturday day the atmosphere in the city centre is unrecognisable from when I was a student here 20 years ago. There’s been a culture shift,” he added. “If my parents come to visit for a weekend now I wouldn’t take them into town for lunch any more – I would on a Sunday but not on a Saturday.”
Even the students have noticed. “Nobody is really concerned about the behaviour of students anymore. We’re the well behaved ones now,” said Charlie, a second year student at the University of York.Even the students have noticed. “Nobody is really concerned about the behaviour of students anymore. We’re the well behaved ones now,” said Charlie, a second year student at the University of York.
“Students are not the problem when it comes to antisocial behaviour in York city centre. I work in a nightclub and the majority of trouble caused comes from stag dos and people on race days. They’re always verbally abusing the bar staff.”“Students are not the problem when it comes to antisocial behaviour in York city centre. I work in a nightclub and the majority of trouble caused comes from stag dos and people on race days. They’re always verbally abusing the bar staff.”
Back at the racecourse meeting, officers from North Yorkshire police asked the landlords for suggestions on solving the problem, noting that while much of the behaviour was antisocial, it was not necessarily criminal.Back at the racecourse meeting, officers from North Yorkshire police asked the landlords for suggestions on solving the problem, noting that while much of the behaviour was antisocial, it was not necessarily criminal.
Terry Daly, who has run the Old Grey Mare for 27 years, wanted those caught urinating in public to be marched straight to a cash machine. “We’re not allowed to take cash off people, unfortunately,” explained one officer, adding that a lady who “dropped her knickers and urinated right in the view of people having a meal” was fined £580 in court, while a chap who did his business up against a taxi with a passenger in it was hit for £482.Terry Daly, who has run the Old Grey Mare for 27 years, wanted those caught urinating in public to be marched straight to a cash machine. “We’re not allowed to take cash off people, unfortunately,” explained one officer, adding that a lady who “dropped her knickers and urinated right in the view of people having a meal” was fined £580 in court, while a chap who did his business up against a taxi with a passenger in it was hit for £482.
The police were keen on pushing what they called “community resolutions” – punishments brokered outside of the criminal justice system between victim and perpetrator when, as one officer put it, “someone has just been an idiot really”. Daly had been involved in one such deal, he said, when a man from Lincolnshire smashed his 200-year-old window. A DNA match proved who the culprit was, and police got him to phone up Daly and offer £100 towards the window repairs.The police were keen on pushing what they called “community resolutions” – punishments brokered outside of the criminal justice system between victim and perpetrator when, as one officer put it, “someone has just been an idiot really”. Daly had been involved in one such deal, he said, when a man from Lincolnshire smashed his 200-year-old window. A DNA match proved who the culprit was, and police got him to phone up Daly and offer £100 towards the window repairs.
Anita Adams from the Maltings wanted a section of York station to be cordoned off for revellers who arrived drunk, having tucked into too much booze on the journey over. She asked one officer what he thought the pubs could do to help. “Ban inflatables,” he said, without hesitation. A suggestion to ban the sale of blow-up sex dolls and gigantic willies was dismissed as unworkable. “Make it a condition of entry that they can’t come in with them,” suggested the officer.Anita Adams from the Maltings wanted a section of York station to be cordoned off for revellers who arrived drunk, having tucked into too much booze on the journey over. She asked one officer what he thought the pubs could do to help. “Ban inflatables,” he said, without hesitation. A suggestion to ban the sale of blow-up sex dolls and gigantic willies was dismissed as unworkable. “Make it a condition of entry that they can’t come in with them,” suggested the officer.
Other suggestions included the creation of a “code of conduct” handed out to all stag and hen parties when they book into hotels and restaurants in the city explaining what behaviour is expected of them. Others wanted to know why errant publicans kept their licences despite repeatedly serving those who had drunk way too much. Only one of the 400-odd bars, pubs and clubs in the York council area has lost its licence in the last ten years, according to the council.Other suggestions included the creation of a “code of conduct” handed out to all stag and hen parties when they book into hotels and restaurants in the city explaining what behaviour is expected of them. Others wanted to know why errant publicans kept their licences despite repeatedly serving those who had drunk way too much. Only one of the 400-odd bars, pubs and clubs in the York council area has lost its licence in the last ten years, according to the council.
After the meeting, inspector Andy Godfrey, in charge of neighbourhood policing in the city centre, sighed when asked whether York really was a no-go zone on a Saturday. “Of course it’s not,” he said. “I would never have used that phrase. York is one of the safest cities in the whole country. There are no crime statistics to suggest there has been an increase in reports of crime or antisocial behaviour,” he said. “It’s more of a problem of perception.”After the meeting, inspector Andy Godfrey, in charge of neighbourhood policing in the city centre, sighed when asked whether York really was a no-go zone on a Saturday. “Of course it’s not,” he said. “I would never have used that phrase. York is one of the safest cities in the whole country. There are no crime statistics to suggest there has been an increase in reports of crime or antisocial behaviour,” he said. “It’s more of a problem of perception.”
The council, meanwhile, was keen to play down any problems. Steve Waddington, assistant director of housing and community aafety, said: “Alcohol-related crime reported to the police in the city’s Alcohol Restriction Zone has fallen by 21% since April 2013, which shows our joint actions are effective and that York remains among the safest cities in the UK for all to enjoy.” The council, meanwhile, was keen to play down any problems. Steve Waddington, assistant director of housing and community safety, said: “Alcohol-related crime reported to the police in the city’s Alcohol Restriction Zone has fallen by 21% since April 2013, which shows our joint actions are effective and that York remains among the safest cities in the UK for all to enjoy.”