Following on from last month's successful launch of five Cold Calling Controlled Zones across the city, City of York Council, in partnership with Safer York Partnership and North Yorkshire Police, is to launch an additional zone in the Danesmead Close area.

This is in response to a request from the Danesmead Residents and Meadow Association and the new zone will cover Danesmead Close, Norway Drive, Danes Croft, Redman Close and Stockholme Close.  These streets are all accessed via Danesmead Close so there will only be a need to put up 'Cold Calling Controlled Zone' signs at the entrance to Danesmead Close. The zone will cover 71 properties and there is widespread support from local residents for its introduction.

The aim of Cold Calling Controlled Zones is to prevent doorstep crime, such as distraction burglary and crimes associated with cold calling, as well as reducing the fear of crime associated with criminals targeting people's homes. Residents within a designated zone agree that they do not wish to deal with cold callers. This means that anyone breaching this can be reported to the council's trading standards team or the police.

The first wave of Cold Calling Controlled Zones were introduced in the Southdown Road area of Huntington; the West Bank area of Acomb; the Beckfield Lane area; the Heath Moor drive area of Fulford; and the Greenside area of Dunnington on October 30 of this year. Initial indications suggest that they are proving very successful, with no reports of cold calling in the zones since their introduction.

In addition to the request for a Cold Calling Controlled Zone in the Danesmead Close are, the council has received eight further requests from communities across the city.