NORTH Yorkshire Police say plans are in place to tackle antisocial behaviour by racegoers ahead of the start of the racing season in York next week.

Ahead of the three-day Dante Festival at York Racecourse, which begins on Wednesday, officers have announced additional patrols and road closures to help tackle any drink-related antisocial behaviour and keep crowds away from residential areas in South Bank and around Knavesmire.

Public order patrols in proportion to the number of race attendees will also take place in the city centre throughout the evening and into the early hours of the morning after race meetings.

Insp Neil Drummond, of York West Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “While we acknowledge there’s some disruption for residents, by putting the restrictions in place and liasing with them, we can lessen the impact on the local community while still allowing the racegoers to enjoy their day.”

Operation Lancelot, launched by the York West Safer Neighbourhood Team in 2011, saw changes in the routes used by racegoers leaving the racecourse and heading into the centre of the city.

Racegoers were diverted from more residential areas up Albemarle Road on to The Mount, and this has now become the permanent route.

The change has resulted in a “dramatic reduction in incidents of antisocial behaviour”, Insp Drummond said.

Temporary closure orders will be in place two hours before the first race, from about noon to 2pm, and following the last race, from about 4.15pm and 6.45pm, stopping crowds from accessing Scarcroft Hill, Telford Terrace and Wentworth Road.

Drivers with R48 parking permits will be able to use the roads and residents with proof of identity will be allowed in on foot.

However, police also said “common sense” would also be used, as the “primary aim” was to stop antisocial behaviour and not to stop residents getting to their street,.

About 40,000 people are expected to attend the racecourse over the three-day festival. Last year 350,000 people attended the races throughout the year.

James Brennan, head of marketing at York Racecourse, said the venue worked closely with the police ahead of meetings and paid for policing on the site.

He said only one person was arrested last year for a public order offence.

Mr Brennan said: “We recognise, sadly, not everbody in life behaves the way we would want them to when they leave us. We hope the common sense-thinking people understand we cannot be responsible for 350,000 people once they have left.”

But he said the vast majority of racegoers did “look after the city”.