YORK MP Hugh Bayley was today being urged to prevent "anarchy on the streets" of the city by a desperate resident who is being victimised by thugs.

The 46-year-old man has suffered at the hands of the yobs for the past 18 months, in what he believes is a revenge campaign after he confronted vandals on his neighbour's property.

He was due to meet the MP today to call for practical measures and increased awareness of the problems he and other people in the city are facing. Over the past 18 months, the man, who does not want to be identified, said he has had 11 windows broken and two attempted burglaries at his home, in the Hull Road area. He has been spat at and abuse has been hurled at him.

As reported in Thursday's Evening Press, a window was even broken while a police officer was inside his house on Wednesday evening, investigating a previous incident. Since then, a lump of concrete has been thrown at his house.

The man is now calling for a bigger police presence on the streets, CCTV in the residential area, the closure of the alleyways that are used as escape route by the criminals, and the removal of road bollards which prevent police cars chasing suspects.

He said he and his neighbours had even considered employing a private security firm to patrol the streets, and they are keen to start a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in the street.

He said: "I will take a copy of the Evening Press to the meeting with Hugh Bayley and some of the letters that I've written to local councillors, and just explain what's been going on - it's like anarchy on the streets.

"I'm hoping that he will make some contacts, raise the profile, and we want practical measures for crime reduction.

"One of the big problems in this particular area is it's a mass of snickelways and walk-throughs, and these should be cut off.

"Most estates these days are built with crime reduction in mind, and without walkways, because they provide an escape route for the criminals.

"He could also help in getting funding for CCTV."

The man has received backing from his local councillor, and York police have said that increased patrols of the area may be possible, resources permitting.

rosslyn.brennan@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 12:31 Saturday, March 23, 2002