NORTH Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner has called for an urgent River Safety summit in the wake of the death of York student Megan Roberts.
Following the tragic death of 20-year-old fine arts student, who it is believed drowned in the River Ouse following a night out in York, Julia Mulligan, has called for a summit between various organisations in York.
The meeting on Tuesday, March 25 will involve organisations such as the students’ union, voluntary groups, university representatives and public bodies including police and the City of York Council.
The meeting will be held in private under “Chatham House Rules” and cannot be reported on in full. The PCC’s office said this was to “facilitate an open discussion with no stone left unturned”.
Mrs Mulligan said: “The desperately sad events of recent weeks have again highlighted the need to do everything possible to keep people safe.
“A great deal of excellent work is ongoing, from the city council to voluntary groups, but there are always opportunities to achieve more by working together.
“Alcohol has tended to be a common theme in contributing to risk and this will no doubt be part of our discussions. Not only that, but we need to reassure residents, students and visitors that York - including its fantastic rivers - are as safe as can be.”
Friends of Megan Roberts at York St John University recently set up an online petition calling for new safety measures or CCTV cameras along the river and said they would be willing to raise funds to cover the costs if all else failed.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here