The communities asking for more help to tackle crime

North Yorkshire is statistically one of the safest places to live in England, but some residents say their experiences with drugs and anti-social behaviour have left them feeling scared and helpless.

For many people England's largest county conjures up images of a trip to Scarborough for fish and chips, the verdant vistas of the Dales or the historic splendour of York with its Minster.

But some North Yorkshire residents say that, despite the statistics, crime is an almost everyday issue in their lives.

Claire (not her real name) lives in Scarborough and sun and sand are the last thing on her mind.

She lives on the Barrowcliff Estate, one of the most deprived spots in the county.

Earlier this year police announced they had introduced the Home Office’s Clear, Hold, Build strategy in the area to "reclaim and rebuild the neighbourhood" from serious and organised crime.

Claire says: "Politicians need to sort something out for the children that live in the estate, not just the tourists."

One of her sons is currently addicted to drugs while another child regularly skips school.

She feels lost and doesn't know where to turn next.

"It's not every young person on this estate and it’s not just this estate.

"It’s all over the town and not just this town, all over the country," she explains about the problems.

Her biggest fear about her son's future? "That he might not have one," Claire says.

Her biggest request from any future government?

"They need to stop putting the effort into the tourist areas.

"I understand that’s how our town works, but think about the community that lives here.

"We need more help, we need help with housing, towards charities instead of putting statues up in places."

She says there is a police presence but that it doesn't seem to have an effect.

"The police basically just walk around the estate," she says.

"But I don't know what more they can do; once they get rid of one drug dealer another one comes along.

"It's like an infestation, basically."

Away from the coast in the York suburb of Haxby, residents tell us they are suffering from the blight of anti-social behaviour.

The people we spoke to there cited large groups of youths regularly causing trouble.

They have been caught on CCTV throwing rocks at cars and bricks through windows.

One man says he felt it "harrowing" that the incidents were happening – and police needed to step up and deal with it.

"We've been scared to leave our cars on the drive, fearful that at any point there could be a brick coming through the window."

Cafe owner Tina Clayton, who runs Haxby Bakehouse, advises her staff to close the shop if they feel intimidated by anti-social behaviour.

She says: "If I've seen on social media that there have been issues, I often think, 'oh Lord, when I get to work will the windows have gone through, will there be a mess everywhere":[]}