News Beat
Calls for CCTV cameras in Shambles, York, after break-ins
A raider smashed the front windows of Shambles Sweet Shop in the early hours of Monday (January 5) and stole more than 70kg of sweets on display inside.
Anne Ellerby, 45, of Third Avenue, Tang Hall, was charged over the incident and pleaded guilty to burglary at York Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. She was banned from Shambles and Shambles Market and handed a 12-month community order with a six-month drug rehabilitation programme and 20 days’ rehabilitative activities. She must also pay £590 compensation to the sweet shop, £85 prosecution costs and a £114 statutory surcharge.
The burglary came after traders in Shambles were targeted during a separate spate of break-ins last year.
Phil Pinder, who chairs the York High Street Forum and co-owns the Potions Cauldron in Shambles, said he has asked City of York Council to consider installing CCTV cameras in the historic street.
He said the council owns most properties in Shambles but it does not have any CCTV cameras in the street.
The council’s director of governance, Bryn Roberts, said any requests for new CCTV in a public place would be considered through the local authority’s partnership approach. This approach involves working with North Yorkshire Police and other organisations to “reduce crime and keep residents, visitors and businesses safe”, he said.
Traders in Shambles have installed their own CCTV cameras which allowed police to identify the woman involved in the burglary at the sweet shop on Monday and arrest her, Mr Pinder said.
The independent business owner said traders have also installed extra security measures, such as metal bars over doors.
But he said Shambles “doesn’t have a single camera” that is operated by the council, as he called on the local authority to install more CCTV in the area.
“My suggestion I put to them [the council], is that we look at installing some cameras with a feed that looks down the street, not just at a single premises,” Mr Pinder told The Press.
“You could, pretty much, monitor the whole street and you would be able to get a clear view of who is coming and going.
“And I think we could probably do that for around £1,000, so it’s not even mega bucks.”
The cameras would be small, discreet devices which would not take away from the picturesque nature of the street, he said. “[The camera] would be clipped under the eaves, you wouldn’t even see it.”
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Mr Pinder said the break-ins in Shambles are “definitely something we worry about as [independent business owners in the street]”. “I think it’s a little concerning because we’re not on the named thoroughfares; we’re not covered by the big CCTV cameras – so we are a blind spot on that system,” he said.
He added that the costs associated with break-ins are usually below insurance excesses “which generally means if someone kicks your door in, you’ve got to pay for it yourself”.
Meanwhile, Mr Pinder praised the traders in Shambles and North Yorkshire Police for rallying around Shambles Sweet Shop after the burglary on Monday.
“It’s a great street and a crowd of people … We like to look out for each other,” he said, adding: “Huge credit to the police for actually investigating it – I’m not sure that all police forces would have done that to the extent they have – so huge credit to North Yorkshire Police for resolving it so quickly.”
Mr Roberts said the council “must look carefully at the full costs of installing, maintaining and monitoring CCTV” when considering new cameras.
“However, cost alone does not decide the outcome,” he said. “A detailed risk assessment is also required to ensure any new CCTV meets strict data protection and privacy laws.
“This assessment considers why CCTV is being proposed, whether it is necessary and proportionate, and what benefits it is expected to bring to the specific area.
“By working closely with our partners and following an evidence‑based assessment process, the council aims to ensure that any use of public space CCTV is fully justified, effective in supporting public safety, and compliant with all legal and privacy obligations.”
