DESPAIRING of petty crime, wanton damage and daylight attacks on people in the town centre, Thirsk Chamber of Trade is to push ahead with plans to bring in community wardens.

Chamber chairman Don Moore told members at this week's meeting that money was available to set up a wardens' scheme to assist the police and proposed that further investigations should proceed.

"I realise that we cannot have an overnight solution to the whole aspect of crime, wanton damage and burglaries, but if we do nothing we will have the same situation in ten years time.

"We cannot continue to stand by while petty crime is committed to provide drug users with money to fuel their habit," he said.

Coun Andy Robinson agreed, saying the situation was bad. "In an attack last week a little old lady was beaten up and is now in hospital. There are so many thefts which are not reported as the public feel there is little chance of the culprits being apprehended."

Coun Robinson did point out though, that better surveillance from CCTV cameras might result from a move to employ paid staff to help monitor them.

It was agreed that a further meeting with the police and other interested organisations be arranged for funding to be discussed and first moves made to setting up a warden scheme.

The proposed wardens would patrol the streets. Although civilians, they would be trained and employed by the police service. They would have no powers of arrest but would be able to detrain suspects for 30 minutes while waiting for a police officer.

l Police searching for a man who brandished a knife in Thirsk town centre on Thursday of last week were yesterday questioning an individual as part of their inquiries.