Plain-clothed police officers to patrol York at night

It's part of a plan to prevent sexual offences and keep people safe

Author: Liam ArrowsmithPublished 25th Sep 2023
Last updated 25th Sep 2023

North Yorkshire Police is set to deploy specialist plain-clothed officers into York city centre, as part of preventative measures to stop sexual assaults and keep people safe.

The force is taking part in Project Vigilant, which will see plain-clothed officers analyse behaviour and decide whether to call in uniformed colleagues.

They'll also work with other agencies, such as Street Angels and Yorkshire Ambulance, to reunite people with friends and in medical emergencies.

Speaking about Project Vigilant, Detective Chief Inspector Carol Kirk said:

“York is a destination city with a vibrant night-time economy.

“On evenings and weekends - when we see the most activity – we deploy our new team of specially trained officers on Project Vigilant.

“The team is trained to use a variety of tactics to prevent sexual offending and protect vulnerable people.

“This deployment will help us ensure that we fulfil our commitment of making sure the public in York are safe and feel safe.”

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