York gets tough over threat to SCPs

Motorists are being warned they face a fine of up to £1,000 in a new City of York Council school safety campaign.

The campaign, spearheaded by the council's school crossing patrols manager Mel Dawkins, aims to get all motorists to stop when required to by SCPs. Motorists convicted of failing to stop for a patrol face three penalty points on their licence and large fines.

The council is joining a national drive to tackle the issue by distributing posters across the city. Council vehicles will also carry the posters over a three-month period, enabling the campaign to get closer to motorists.

The council already has citywide safe routes to school and school safety projects underway. But it is also keen to get drivers to take more notice of its 37-strong team of school crossing patrols stationed on key routes outside city primary schools.

"We want to remind people that they are breaking the law by ignoring the crossing patrol," said Mel Dawkins, the council's school crossing patrols manager. "We have successfully prosecuted motorists in the past and we will continue to pursue this issue in the courts if necessary.

"Many drivers are either going too fast or don't see the patrol. A lot of them will have children themselves and we would like them to think about the possible consequences of their behaviour."

Mr Dawkins believes the attitude of motorists is one of the reasons why there is a national problem recruiting people to become SCPs. In York there are currently eight vacancies.

Further information about this article is available from Mel Dawkins, school crossing patrol manager, 07909 685095, or press manager Neil Sterio. 01904 551068, neil.sterio@york.gov.uk