YORK’S community safety boss got an earful when he went out on night patrol with noise enforcement officers.

Coun Sandy Fraser gained first-hand experience of the antisocial noise nuisance residents endure from their neighbours in the city centre and in the outlying villages, and of how council officers deal with it.

He was told it was a relatively quiet night, although the team was kept busy from 9pm at the start of the shift right through the last call at 2.30am to deal with a party in Strensall. The previous weekend the team had handled 40 calls, double the average of 20 a weekend.

“It was certainly an insight for me into the sort of problems they have to deal with while they are on the weekend night shift,” said Coun Fraser.

“When it’s quiet, that’s good news and it means residents are not being disturbed. That is what we want.”

Officers invited Coun Fraser back to join them on another patrol later in the year when it may be noisier. He has committed himself to strengthening their service The types of problems included noise nuisance from pubs, clubs and licensed premises in the city centre, to private parties in the more outlying areas. Late-night barbecues and parties being held by students celebrating the end of the academic year were some of the nuisances.

Colin Rumford, the council’s head of environmental health and trading standards, said: “In recent weeks, we have been experiencing a spike in demand and the number of calls have increased dramatically.”

Anyone officers believe is causing a noise nuisance is encouraged to turn the noise or music down or off.

If they fail to do so, the council can issue a noise abatement notice and if necessary, prosecute them and confiscate their equipment.