BURGLARY, assault, threats to pupils - these crime statistics were being used to support a York school's bid to close a right of way running through its grounds.

The highly controversial proposal to shut the footpath through St Peter's School is this week being debated at a public inquiry in York's Guildhall.

The school wants to shut the path for crime prevention reasons.

But the plans have sparked anger locally, and residents say closing the right of way will mean they lose a much-valued walkimg route.

The second day of the public inquiry heard evidence from PC Jim Shanks, crime prevention officer for North Yorkshire Police.

He presented details of crimes reported from the school as evidence.

Between January 2001 and November 9, 2005, the school was subject to 66 criminal incidents, including bicycles stolen, changing rooms and a common room burgled, robbery and assault.

In a more bizarre incident in June last year, a woman was detained under the Mental Health Act after telling a group of boarders that the bean bag they were sunbathing on contained a dead body.

PC Shanks said in a statement provided to the inquiry that he had been asked by the school to help review their security in July 1996.

He said in the statement: "Based on the level of crime and its location within the school, it was my opinion that the public footpath running through the school grounds from Clifton was a significant contributory factor.

"I considered, based on my professional experience, that this footpath provided the criminal with anonymity as well as a convenient access and escape route to and from the school buildings.

"I am not aware of any other school in the county which has a public right of way running straight through the middle of its buildings, and through playgrounds and sports fields.

"The potential security risks are obvious."

He added that crimes on the path which did not involve staff or pupils would still contribute to "feelings of insecurity and anxiety among pupils and staff".

But Philip Crowe, chairman of Clifton Path Action Group - the local body which is opposing the proposal - said on the first day of the inquiry on Tuesday that the school had not taken other action to secure its premises, and that there had not been enough crime to justify closing the path.

Updated: 09:39 Thursday, January 19, 2006