Police respond to Haxby resident’s open letter on anti-social behaviour

North Yorkshire Police have responded to an open letter from a York resident calling for stronger action to tackle a rise in anti-social behaviour.

Shaun Anderson, from Haxby, spoke out about a series of disturbing incidents he has witnessed in recent months. After going public with his concerns, he said he was threatened with being “slashed” by one of the individuals involved.

Police have personally responded to Shaun, confirming that each of his concerns are being investigated. They also urged the wider community to continue reporting any instances of anti-social behaviour.

As YorkMix previously reported, on 28 July, Shaun sent his letter to North Yorkshire Police and his local MP, Luke Charters, following two particularly troubling incidents that occurred within hours of each other.

Earlier that day, a group of youths entered a local coffee shop, harassing staff, throwing chairs at the wall, and verbally abusing the manager.

Later, while Shaun was at the Tipsy Fox off-licence, he witnessed another group ride bikes into the shop and shout at a young female staff member who was pleading with them to leave.

In his letter, Shaun called for an increased police presence in Haxby and requested clear guidance on what residents can legally do when witnessing such behaviour.

He warned that without immediate intervention, “something very serious could take place.”

Police response

In a direct and personal response, Police Sergeant Andrew Richards hand-delivered a letter to Shaun, addressing his concerns.

Sergeant Richards apologised for the incidents and said he was “fully aware” of the challenges currently affecting Haxby.

He addressed each of the four incidents raised in Shaun’s letter, including reports of theft, harassment, intimidation, vandalism, and verbal abuse, stating:

“There are some issues which we as the police will be able to fix and others we may find more challenging. In relation to the incidents you have reported, I can provide you some reassurance that I have looked at each of these personally and can provide you with the following updates.”

He further explained each of the police responses and how the situations had been dealt with by the force.

Sergeant Richards outlined the police response to each case and described steps being taken to resolve them. He also acknowledged concerns about youths riding electric motorbikes in the area:

“I am in the process of writing a targeted activity plan for my officers in an attempt to solve this issue and provide a visible presence to deter the problems you have raised.”

He added that he was doing everything possible to improve the quality of life for Haxby residents.

Increased patrols

On 5 August, North Yorkshire Police shared a Facebook update confirming increased police activity in Haxby, including foot and marked vehicle patrols in response to the recent rise in anti-social behaviour.

A police spokesperson said:

“We spoke to local businesses and local residents offering reassurance and giving suitable advice. It was lovely to see so many friendly faces. We paid particular attention to areas known for ASB and shop theft.”

In the comments, some local residents suggested bringing back community police stations or police houses to help improve visibility and response.

Full versions of Shaun Anderson’s open letter and Sergeant Andrew Richards’ response are included below.