More than 400 people have attended their local ward committee meeting in the first week of the July  to collect their free personal alarms and property marking equipment or get their bicycles tagged.
 
The special 'giveaway' is part of a three-month community safety campaign organised by City of York Council and entitled 'feeling and being safe in York'. 

The campaign will tackle issues of personal safety, property safety and fear of crime, as well as stepping up enforcement activity.  One of its aims is to raise awareness of the simple steps that people can take to improve their personal safety.

As part of the campaign, the council's neighbourhood management team, together with North Yorkshire Police, will be attending ward committee meetings to promote personal safety by offering personal alarms, marking people's property and offering cycle tagging.

Anyone interested in finding out more is urged to go along to their local ward committee meeting as these will be given to members of the public on a first come first serve basis. These will take place at the following venues:

- Bishopthorpe and Wheldrake (Yorkshire Air Museum) - 18 July from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
- Clifton (Burton Green Primary School) - 12 July from 3.15pm to 5.30pm.
- Fishergate (Fulford Parish Church Hall) - 24 July from 6pm followed by the meeting itself at 7.30pm.
- Guildhall (Treasurer's House) - 12 July at 6pm.
- Haxby and Wigginton (Oakengrove Community Centre) - 17 July from 7pm to 9pm.
- Heworth (St. Wulstans Church, Fossway) - 19 July from 6pm until 8pm.
- Skelton, Rawcliffe and Clifton Without (Clifton Moor Church and Community Centre)  - 26 July from 6.30pm until 9pm.
- Strensall (Strensall Methodist Church) - 11 July from 6.30pm, with the meeting afterwards at 7pm.
- Westfield (Oaklands Sports Centre) - 11 July from 7pm.

Zoe Burns, head of the council's neighbourhood management unit, said: "We do hope that people will take the opportunity to go along to their local ward committee meeting to have their cycle tagged and claim their personal alarms and property marking kits. This is a great chance for people to find out more about how they can be safe."

To find out more about the community safety campaign or to view agendas for your local ward committee meeting, please contact the neighbourhood management team on 551832