CALLS have been made to resolve a spate of anti-social behaviour in Malton and Norton.

A meeting was organised by Cllr Lindsay Burr Deputy Mayor and North Yorkshire Councillor for Malton, with the outgoing Police Fire and Crime commissioner Zoe Metcalf at the former Ryedale District Council offices.

Cllr Burr urgently called the second and final meeting with Ms Metcalf to help resolve concerns regarding antisocial behaviour in Malton and Norton.

The meeting took in to account that this would be the final meeting with Ms Metcalf, who has been deselected by the Conservatives.

Cllr Burr said: "Discussions were had to resolve antisocial behaviour and understand why this keeps happening.

"Whilst it would be unfair to target all young people within this category, the profound lack of youth clubs and places for our young people to hang out has had a massive negative impact recently. Vital funding for these venues has been stripped away over the last 10 years.

"Police numbers are woefully down, police are no longer visible on our streets and this is definitely not helping the situation."

Cllr Burr said: " I’ve spoken to many residents of all ages, in the towns of Malton Norton and as far afield as Pickering, Kirkbymoorside and Helmsley, and residents all say they desperately want to see more community police in our towns, they feel this will help antisocial behaviour fall, make residents feel safer and law and order will be restored.

At the meeting Hate Crime was also discussed, an agreement to stamp out this abhorrent practice was reiterated.

Violence against women and girls, misogyny and cohesive behaviour was also discussed.

Cllr Burr said: "I will continue to campaign against these vile practices. Shop lifting was discussed as a rising crime, this crime is made easy for thieves due to lack of police. This is becoming worrying for our shop keepers and retail staff, again more police on the street would help this situation.

"The meeting was very productive and the Commissioner and myself agreed some very positive actions moving forward."

However all this good work could be in vain due to the Commissioners recent de selection.

Cllr Burr said I feel that the Commissioner should have been given time to embed all her good work, this is regretful that this effective women commissioner would be forced to stand down on May 7TH 2024

Whilst we did not always agree on every issues, we had respect for each other as strong women, who wanted only the best for all our residents.

Zoe Metcalf will be replaced by the new Mayor who ever that may be.