Ripon councillors call on crime commissioner to keep CCTV promise
North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoe Metcalfe has been called on by Ripon City Council to keep a promise made by her predecessor regarding the purchase of CCTV cameras to combat violent and anti-social behaviour.
Former commissioner Philip Allott, who resigned in October, said he would pay £20,000 for two cameras out of his PFCC community fund.
He told a meeting of North Yorkshire County Council‘s Skipton and Ripon Area Constituency Committee that his office was willing to pay for the extra cameras, costing £10,000 apiece, if Ripon City Council submitted an application — which it did.
He subsequently resigned before the cameras were bought.
The PFCC has now said in an email to the city council:
“The PFCC community fund is not, at this stage – under the funding criteria as it stands – in a position to support your application for the CCTV requested.”
The email added that the PFCC has agreed with North Yorkshire County Council that a joint strategic approach to a countywide CCTV review will proceed after the May local elections next year.
“It is deeply disappointing that the previous commissioner committed resources without advice and full consideration of the funding criteria of the community fund, and I am sorry the city council has been put in this position.
“Unfortunately, if we were to fund CCTV for one area, we would find ourselves in an impossible position of being asked to replicate this type of provision across the whole of York and North Yorkshire.
“The funding pot we have available is simply unable to support this, which is why it is important we take an overall view.
“I give my full assurance to the city council and the residents and businesses of Ripon that my team and I will support them to address their community safety concerns together with the appropriate statutory partners.”
Councillor Andrew Williams, leader of Ripon City Council, said:
“I have been contacted by the commissioner, who has offered to meet with me.
“I will be taking her up on the offer, so that I can press the case that residents in Bondgate were promised by her predecessor two CCTV cameras, which are much-needed to ensure that residents who have felt blighted by anti-social behaviour feel safe.
“The temporary camera installed in Bondgate by Harrogate Borough Council earlier this year had a significant impact and a permanent solution now needs to be delivered as promised.”
Mr Allott, stood down after making comments in a radio interview about the murder of Sarah Everard murder trial.
CCTV footage shows Harrogate killer’s final movements
Police have released CCTV footage of convicted murderer Daniel Ainsley’s final movements before he killed Mark Wolsey.
Ainsley was sentenced to life in prison yesterday for murdering Mr Wolsey, 48, on Mayfield Grove on March 5.
Following sentencing, North Yorkshire Police has released footage used to prosecute Ainsley.
The three-minute clip, which can be played below, shows the 24-year-old going into Asda supermarket on Bower Road to purchase a set of kitchen knives with his own bank card.
He later goes outside the store to dispose of all but one of them before walking back to 38 Mayfield Grove where he stabbed Mr Wolsey multiple times.
At Leeds Crown Court last month, Ainsley pleaded not guilty to murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility but admitted manslaughter.
However, Mark McKone QC, prosecuting, said the CCTV footage demonstrated that Ainsley knew what he was doing and that the killing was premeditated.
He told Leeds Crown Court:
“There can be no doubt that the defendant intended to kill Mark.
“The defendant knew exactly what he was doing and did it in a calm and calculated way.”
The defence’s case that Ainsley was suffering from a personality disorder which “impaired his ability to form a rational judgement” did not convince a jury.
He was convicted of murder on October 22 and sentenced to a minimum of 22 years in prison yesterday.
Speaking after sentencing, Detective Superintendent Fran Naughton, head of crime at North Yorkshire Police, said:
“I am pleased with today’s sentence and that the court previously agreed with the prosecution that this was clearly a case of murder, and nothing less.
“My thoughts remain with Mark’s mother, children and his wider family who have had to sit through the trial and listen to the horrific details of his death. Nothing can bring Mark back, but I hope that his loved ones can take some comfort in the knowledge that justice has now been done.”
Ripon council to buy CCTV camera to tackle anti-social behaviour
A mobile CCTV camera is to be deployed in Ripon to target hotspot areas for anti-social behaviour and crime.
Ripon City Council has this week agreed to purchase the surveillance equipment which its leader said will act as a “significant deterrent” against “frustrating” levels of crime seen during the third national lockdown.
Speaking at a meeting on Tuesday, Cllr Andrew Williams, leader of the council, said:
“We have witnessed in recent months problems with anti-social behaviour across the city.
“Thankfully the pressure that this council has brought to bear upon the relevant authorities has led to a significant improvement.
“But I do think it would be helpful in terms of supporting police efforts generally across the city, and reinforcing the point that the city council and city as a whole won’t tolerate anti-social behaviour, that we have a mobile CCTV camera.
“The ability to deploy a camera would act as a significant deterrent and be extremely useful.”
Cllr Williams said a “yob culture” had developed in the city with recent reports of crimes including street robberies, assaults on emergency workers and members of the public being spat at.
He previously said empty streets and dark evenings earlier in the lockdown had created the “perfect storm” for crime and that some residents – including himself – had become too afraid to leave their homes on an evening.
Cllr Wiliams also raised concerns over the number of officers patrolling the streets.
In February, North Yorkshire Police responded by stepping up patrols and said it had made “a number” of arrests, recovered drugs and seized criminal property including cash, imitation firearms and other weapons.
This was after the spate of crime prompted a meeting between city councillors and North Yorkshire, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan who later said she was “confident” that officers were dealing with the problem “robustly”.
At Tuesday’s meeting, city council clerk Paula Benson said the CCTV camera could cost more than £7,000 and that the authority hoped to secure the funds through grants.
Cllr Stuart Martin said:
“It is absolutely essential that we support the police in the fight against crime and the more we can do to help them the better.
“It is a good move forward and a good use of public money.”
In a direct plea to those causing anti-social behaviour problems, North Yorkshire Police inspector Alex Langley previously said:
“If you commit anti-social behaviour and mindless acts of theft and criminal damage we will take every opportunity to investigate and prosecute you.
“As a young person you may not realise that throwing that stone or stealing some alcohol may result in a criminal record – and that a criminal record could prevent you accessing higher education and certain types of employment.
“Please stop and think about the consequences of your actions and how your decisions today could impact on your future.”
Mobile cameras to be used to reduce crime in Ripon
Two mobile CCTV cameras are to be employed in the fight against crime in Ripon.
Additional police patrols in city crime hotspots have reduced tension in recent weeks after a spate of anti-social behaviour and violence.
But Ripon City Council is mindful that the recent high visible police presence is not likely to be maintained.
Councillors at last night’s virtual full council meeting agreed that cameras could play a role in helping tackle the problem.
City council leader Andrew Williams told the meeting that Harrogate Borough Council has mobile CCTV facilities that can be used in Ripon. The cameras can be attached to items such as lampposts and moved around as necessary. He said:
“We very much appreciate the stepping up of police patrols in the city, which have proved effective.
“However, in the longer-term maintaining the same level of policing on the streets is not sustainable and we need to provide the police with additional resources.”
Stuart Martin, who is also a district and county councillor, added he has approached North Yorkshire County Council to discuss the use of a mobile camera owned by the authority.
The devices would be additional to the fixed CCTV cameras used to watch over parts of the city, such as Market Square.
Bondgate in Ripon is one of the crime hotspots that may soon be covered by mobile CCTV.
Cllr Martin said:
“I have also spoken with the county highways team about the need to keep street lighting on in the areas where the mobile cameras are deployed, so that clear images can be captured.”
It was agreed that the city council will liaise with North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council for advice on the best locations in Ripon for the mobile cameras.
This will enable them to be employed as both a deterrent and a means of identifying, arresting and prosecuting those involved in violent and anti-social behaviour.
Last year, Ripon councillors voted unanimously to join forces with the police to tackle crime in the city.
In February, North Yorkshire’s police, fire and crime commissioner Julia Mulligan told a virtual meeting with councillors that the force had ‘taken its eye off the ball’ on policing in Ripon.
Earlier in the month, the Stray Ferret reported that residents were scared to go out on the city’s streets following a spate of violent and criminal activity in the Bondgate area.
Man sought after bank card and cash taken in Knaresborough burglary
Police are trying to identify a man from CCTV images after a bank card and cash were stolen in a burglary at a Knaresborough home.
The incident took place on Aspin Park Lane on Tuesday, January 26, between 2pm and 3pm.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:
“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
“In particular, we are appealing for information to help identify the man in the CCTV image as officers believe he might have information which could assist the investigation.”
Police are trying to trace this man from CCTV images
To report information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12210045217.
Circular design pushed civic centre price up
The bespoke circular design of Harrogate Borough Council’s new civic centre could have cost taxpayers an extra £2m.
Speaking to The Stray Ferret, several local architects and quantity surveyors have estimated that curved design adds anywhere between 15 and 35% to the cost of building. Conservatively, we have estimated 20% for the additional cost at Knapping Mount.
The contract with builders Harry Fairclough Ltd was awarded for £11.5m. Using the 20% uplift indicated by experts, a more conventional design for the same square footage could have come in closer to £9.5m.
Not only that, but the unique design of the building has made it very difficult to extend compared to a rectangular building.
What were the reasons for that choice? In its planning application, HBC rather grandly said:
“The circular plan form derives from a number of influences including the desire to express the nature of democracy and local government through a circular debating room which is located at the centre of the building.”
It talked about creating a ‘one council’ culture through working in one place, serving as a main civic hub for the district, and said the design was influenced by a need to offer “good value and careful use of public money”.
Architects who spoke to The Stray Ferret said there are several reasons why curved construction is a more expensive choice.
Each aspect of the build becomes more complex, from inserting square objects such as doors into rounded walls, to joining walls together and ensuring a watertight finish.
Then the furnishings come into play. Flooring for a circular room is more expensive because there is more waste, while specialist furniture is needed to make the most of the space – otherwise, standard furniture leaves awkward, unusable areas.
At Harrogate’s civic centre, an astonishing 27 CCTV cameras are in place to monitor all the building’s facets, compared to just three in the district’s public parks.
An architect’s drawing of Harrogate’s new civic centre
Local specialists who spoke to The Stray Ferret said it is much harder to use space efficiently in a room with curved walls, leading to a larger square footage being required to accommodate the same number of staff as a rectangular building.
One expert described the civic centre’s design as “ludicrous”. He told The Stray Ferret that the new civic centre is so bespoke that it would be hard to adapt for another purpose, leaving question marks over its potential resale value if it is no longer needed.
In the third part of our investigation, we look at what other options were available to the council – and how much less it could have cost the taxpayer.
