Officials at Harrogate Business Improvement District hope more officers will be put into the town centre after latest figures show 187 cases of anti-social behaviour were reported in the area.

Matthew Chapman, manager at the BID, said more police in the area would help to deter such crime.

It comes as the organisation last week launched its Report a Crime campaign, which encourages people to report instances of crime in the town centre.

Latest police figures show that within the force’s Harrogate Town area, which includes the town centre and outer areas, 187 reports of anti-social behaviour were made during May.

The number makes up 31% of all crime reported.

A total of 602 crimes were reported during the month, which also includes 57 instances of criminal damage and 26 reports of shoplifting.

Mr Chapman told the Stray Ferret:

“Harrogate isn’t immune from criminal activity and antisocial behaviour, however, it is a lot safer, cleaner, and more welcoming than many other towns and cities in the UK – and this is something Harrogate BID is doing its upmost to maintain.

“Last week, we launched our Report a Crime campaign, where we are urging businesses, residents and visitors to contact the police via the online reporting system if they witness a crime, or a victim of it.

“Senior Harrogate police officers tell us there are no issues and resources are needed elsewhere, but these figures contradict that view. I hope they will now look again and increase uniformed patrols in and around the town centre, which will have a double effect – that of reassurance and other deterrence.”

Read more:

• BID launches campaign to increase reporting of crime in Harrogate town centre
• Report a Crime and make Harrogate a better place

The campaign to report more crime comes as the BID said police statistics did not match what businesses were telling them on the ground.

The kind of crimes being seen by retailers included anti-social behaviour, often linked to drinking, and what’s termed ‘professional begging’.

The new campaign is being backed by Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, whose chief executive David Simister said:

“Harrogate is a fantastic town to live and work, but when it comes to crime it’s not immune.

“It’s important we get a proper understanding of what is happening – or not happening – in our town centre, hence us giving our backing to this campaign.

“In the past I’ve called 101 and after waiting many minutes I’ve simply put the phone down. And by doing this, an incident has gone unreported. In future, report it online and that way it is logged and recorded.”

To report a crime in Harrogate Town centre, visit the North Yorkshire Police website.

Sponsored by the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival.

Audiences can double their fun at the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Harrogate this year with a special buy one ticket, get one free FESTIVAL TASTER offer.

The 28th festival will open at the stunning Royal Hall on Wednesday, August 10, where it will be for 12 days of outstanding entertainment.

There will be 20 performances at the Royal Hall alongside a memorabilia fair with a programme of lectures, concerts and more.

During the festival you can enjoy shows from the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company.

The company will bring all-time favourite The Pirates of Penzance, an enchanting production of Iolanthe and a lavish, rarely performed production of Utopia Limited.

An incredible crowd in the Royal Hall for the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival.

Opera della Luna, Charles Court Opera and Forbear! Theatre will also bring HMS Pinafore, The Mikado, Patience and an all-singing and dancing production of The Gondoliers.

So, if you have never seen Gilbert & Sullivan before, or your memories flash back to The Play That Goes Wrong in a draughty village hall, then the festival organisers would like you to join in the fun this year and see just how well it can be done.

There’s never been a better time to get involved with a rare buy one ticket, get one free offer. All you need to do is use code TASTER22 on the Gilbert & Sullivan website or by calling 01422 323252. This offer expires on Friday, August 9, 2022.

Two of the Harrogate district’s premier village shows attracted sizeable crowds over the weekend.

Weeton Show drew its biggest attendance for 15 years on Sunday as early morning rain gave way to fine weather.

The event was one of the few country shows to defy covid last year and take place.

Here are some images from the day.

Read more:

• Village show season set to start in Harrogate district
• Historic Hampsthwaite village celebration set for return

Birstwith Show bounced back strongly with its first event in three years.

3SIXTY Bicycle Stunt Team (pictured below) were among the attractions at the Nidderdale event, which dates back to 1867.

Burnt Yates beat Knaresborough to win the centenary Addison Cup final last night.

The Addison Cup, which is contested by the top 16 teams in the Harrogate and District Amateur Evening Cricket League, is one of the oldest cricket competitions in the world, dating back to 1922.

Last night’s final saw Knaresborough post a competitive 143 for 6 in 20 overs at Follifoot Cricket Club. Tashmial Henry struck 64 and Toby Giddings hit 35.

But a skilful and composed unbeaten 67 in gloomy conditions from South African man of the match Byron Boshoff helped Burnt Yates to a six-wicket victory with seven balls to spare.

It’s the first time the village side, which was captained by Ryan Lamb, has won the district’s premier 20-over competition. They beat defending champions Harrogate in the quarter-final.

As usual, a member of the Addison family presented the winner’s medals.

Eric Wainwright, whose father played for The Gas Company, a Harrogate team that won the 1933 final, presented the runner’s-up medals.

Read more:

• Do you recognise any of these Harrogate cricketers from 1922?
• Ofsted praise for ‘ambitious’ leaders at Nidderdale village school

Last night also saw the final of the Atkinson Cup, which is contested by the teams that lose in the first round of the Addison Cup.

The final was postponed when heat stopped play two weeks ago when temperatures approached 40 degrees centigrade. It was then delayed again last week because of rain.

Yesterday at Spofforth, Pateley Bridge scored 134 and then bowled out North Stainley for 101 to win by 33 runs.

Tom Hardcastle, of Pateley, was adjudged man of the match.

Winning captain Ryan Lamb receives the Addison Cup.

Byron Boshoff is presented with the man of the match award.

A man has been arrested after reports that a member of staff at a shop in the town centre was assaulted last night.

Police were called to Cambridge Street at 9pm after being told a man had stolen alcohol from a shop and threatened and assaulted a member of staff.

A statement by North Yorkshire Police today said:

“Officers quickly located a suspect nearby and arrested him on suspicion of assault, theft, criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon.

“The man, who is in his 30s, currently remains in custody and the investigation is ongoing.”

Read more:

• Police warn of increase in house and car thefts in Harrogate
• BID launches campaign to increase reporting of crime in Harrogate town centre

North Yorkshire Police has bought a new digital van to improve how the police service responds to rape or serious sexual offences.

The van is a mobile digital forensic laboratory containing all of the latest equipment and software that the force said it needs to perform phone and computer digital examinations at a scene.

It means officers can examine a range of devices at the earliest opportunity at any location and, when appropriate, return them immediately.

The van is unmarked which means it can visit a victim’s home or a crime scene discreetly.

The force said its main objective was to deliver a faster, safer and more sensitive service for those affected by rape, and sexual assault and to increase confidence in the criminal justice system.

Read More: 

• Malnourished dogs found in Harrogate flat covered in faeces and urine
• Another record month for the Stray Ferret as readership soars

The van’s purchase is in response to the findings of the government’s Rape Response Review and it’s hoped will help the force meet Government targets around rapid victim mobile phone examination.

Assistant chief constable Lindsey Butterfield said:

“The new digital forensics van is a huge asset to the force as it will help us provide an enhanced service to victims of rape and serious sexual assault.

“We recognise that we must do everything we possibly can to support and protect victims at the most distressing time of their lives, and we are confident this new mobile technology will help us do that.  Ultimately, it will also help us deliver our strategy around the prevention of violence against women and girls.

“The use of this van will also strengthen our opportunity to gather valuable evidence and hopefully increase public confidence in the police’s ability to deal with vulnerable victims in the most sensitive way possible.”

Zoë Metcalfe, police, fire and crime commissioner for North Yorkshire, added:

“We must ensure we do all we can to support victims of rape and serious sexual assault, while at the same time ensuring we collect the evidence needed to make sure these crimes can be properly investigated.

“These new digital tools are an important part of that, making it easier and quicker for police to collect evidence and making the process less intrusive for those who have been attacked at the most traumatic of times.

“Victims need to feel they will be taken seriously and can achieve justice if they report these crimes, and I will be making sure that happens in North Yorkshire and York.”

An Oxfordshire company has been awarded £200,000 to oversee a review of junctions as part of mass house building in the west of Harrogate.

North Yorkshire County Council has appointed RPS Consulting Services Limited to oversee the work, which is part of the West Harrogate Infrastructure Delivery Strategy.

The strategy is part of the wider proposals for the area and builds upon the West Harrogate Parameters Plan, which sets out how the area’s infrastructure and services will cope with 4,000 new homes.

The contract will see RPS Consulting Services review the designs of the junctions within the strategy.

Karl Battersby, corporate director for business and environmental services at the county council, said:

“This is a contract to support us in reviewing proposed junction mitigations for the infrastructure delivery plan, which is required to support growth in the west of Harrogate.

“The work will look at the design and timing of various junction changes, as well as the cost and delivery mechanism.

“It includes a number of junctions which will be looked at as part of a cumulative transport assessment carried out by the developers.”

Read more:

• Key planning document delayed for west Harrogate residents facing 4,000 new homes
• Under-fire infrastructure plans for west Harrogate will cost taxpayers £25,000

Residents have criticised the delivery strategy for lacking detail and being “incoherent”.

Some people said they were disappointed after a meeting last month over some of the proposals in the delivery strategy.

The document was due for completion in May – but Harrogate Borough Council has now said it expects it to be published before the end of the year.

The Western Arc Coordination Group, which represents a range of Harrogate campaign and residents groups, said in a statement after the meeting:

“On the day, we were asked to provide comments on a document that only consisted of a series of diagrams in relation to a number of road junctions without any supporting data. The whole of this work came over as incoherent and lacking any real structure.”

In response, a borough council spokesperson said the meeting was held to help design the strategy and further consultation will take place with residents groups later in the year.

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Demand for new homes has driven a sales rise of more than 50% in the last year for a Harrogate estate agency.

Linley and Simpson is now planning to expand its land and new homes department to cover the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber from its 23 offices.

The company achieved a record-breaking £75m of new home sales in just one year, representing two in three of its overall sales.

David Waddington, the agency’s director of land and new homes, said:

“Having grown into the largest land and new homes agent in the area, we now have a strong launch pad for taking our services to house builders in new territories.

“Developers can draw upon our team’s 130 collective years’ sales and marketing expertise in this sector, as well as take advantage of an aligned and connected branch network, which is set to expand further in 2022 and beyond.

“It will also enable us to consolidate our position as the number one go-to agent on the property portals for land and new home stock.”

The company attributes growth in the sector to high demand following the covid pandemic, especially for family homes in rural areas. Rising energy bills are also prompting people to seek more efficient homes.

Demand continues to be high, with 306 new homes sold in the last year, up from 211 in the previous 12 months. The average price of a new home has also risen from £354,714 to £425,834 in the same period.

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Harrogate law firm shortlisted for property award
• Business Breakfast: Care provider adds 120 staff to Harrogate team

Senior carer rewarded for decade of service

A care home in Boroughbridge has recognised the long service of one of its senior carers.

Leoni Senior started as a carer at Boroughbridge Manor in 2012 before working her way up to a senior role.

Her 10 years’ service with the firm were marked with a gift of flowers and jewellery.

Avril Bowyer, deputy general manager of Boroughbridge Manor, said:

“We’re delighted to be celebrating 10 years of loyal service with Leoni. She has demonstrated her dedication and loyalty to this home and its residents year after year.

“I speak for all of us here at Boroughbridge Manor when I say that I’m looking forward to many more years of working with Leoni.”

Jane McFarlane, employee services director at Barchester, which runs the home, added:

“I’m always pleased to hear stories about the long service of Barchester staff and am delighted Leoni has achieved this milestone.

“It is dedication like this that ensures our residents are provided with a happy place to live.”

The RSPCA has revealed that two malnourished dogs rescued in Harrogate were living in a flat covered in faeces and with carpets soaked in urine.

Robbie Nelson, 24, of Woodfield View, was banned from keeping animals for five years last week.

The animal charity has revealed the mastiff called Rocco and the lurcher named Smudge were so underweight their ribs were protruding when RSPCA inspector Tom Hutton was called to a flat in High Street, Harrogate, on March 18 last year.

The inspector, who was called out by police executing a search warrant in relation to another matter, needed to squeeze through the living room door to reach the dogs because of the large amount of clutter, scrap bikes and household waste piled up.

The flat was full of clutter.

Areas of the flat were covered in faeces and the carpets were soaked in urine.

Nelson refused to sign over the dogs to the RSPCA so the animals were seized by the police.

They were taken to a vet for treatment and an examination showed Rocco had a body condition score of one out of nine, which is classed as a state of emaciation.

Rocco is back in good health after being emaciated.

The veterinary surgeon said in her witness statement:

“He (Rocco) weighed just 24.3kg and I would estimate a healthy weight would have been nearer 36kg,”

“The lurcher (Smudge) was also very thin. He weighed 17kg and his body condition score was two out of nine. I estimate a healthy weight for him would have been 23kg.”

The vet concluded that both dogs were malnourished and the “state of their accommodation had compromised their health”.

Robbie Nelson was banned from keeping animals for five years last week.

In mitigation, the court was told the defendant suffered from mental health issues and he felt his brother, Charlie Nelson, should have taken responsibility for the dogs as he was their “true owner”.

Smudge is waiting to be rehomed.

At an earlier hearing, a charge of failing to ensure the needs of the two dogs were met was also proven in absence against Charlie Nelson, 30, also of Woodfield View, Harrogate.

He has yet to be sentenced and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest.

Read more:

• Dog owners who let their pets off the leash cause distress at Ripon Cemetery
• Harrogate man banned from keeping animals for five years
• Police to refer man who left four dogs in hot car to RSPCA

The RSPCA said in a statement that both Rocco and Smudge had “returned to good health and remain in the care of the RSPCA”. They will be rehomed when the outstanding court matter is settled.

After the hearing, inspector Hutton said:

“Both these dogs were skinny and living in awful conditions. The house was full of rubbish and dog faeces.

“We thank North Yorkshire Police for alerting us to the situation the dogs were in, which means we will be able to find them new homes where they are loved and cared for.”

Organisations across Harrogate have been giving their congratulations to England football star Rachel Daly today, after she helped the team to a historic victory in the European Championships.

The Lioness, who grew up in Harrogate, spent the day at Trafalgar Square where a victory parade was held in front of thousands of fans — but her home town was keen to ensure she received its best wishes too.

The messages were led by Rossett School, which Rachel attended as a teenager, becoming a star in its football teams. Headteacher Helen Woodcock said:

“Rachel Daly and the Lionesses have brought a real sense of national achievement and pride to the world of English football. We are so proud of her, here at Rossett!

“We have a long tradition of sporting excellence at Rossett – especially in football – with our young women and men going on to football scholarships both here and abroad. Most recently we have cemented our relationship with the sport in beginning a partnership with Harrogate Town, providing a home for their academy training.

“We are immensely proud of Rachel Daly; her work ethic, her resilience and her longevity in the game. All Rossett students and staff were shouting themselves hoarse in encouragement and then in celebration as she tackled and defended as part of the amazing team effort against a strong German side on Sunday.

“Rossett School are looking forward to preparing the next generation of young women and men heading towards sporting excellence as part of its school and community football programmes.

“We hope to welcome Rachel to the school soon to inspire our young women to look at taking their skills a step further, realising a career in the sport at local, national and international level.”

Read more:

• ‘That was for you’ – Harrogate Lioness’s tribute to late dad
• ‘Play like the star you are’: Harrogate gets behind Rachel Daly ahead of Euro final

Community football teams were also singing her praises:

you were simply amazing @RachelDaly3 and all the @Lionesses https://t.co/FB28hVSrWG

— FDS Harrogate Soccer School (@FDSHarrogate1) July 31, 2022

Among those sending their congratulations was a parent of a young player at Killinghall Nomads, where Daly used to play as a child.

As the Mum of a Killinghall Nomads JFC girl, you and the lionesses have inspired a generation of young girls ⚽️❤️ and so much more. Congratulations and thank you! @RachelDaly3

— Alexandra Vere (@alexsvere) August 1, 2022

Tweets were also posted by local organisations, including Visit Harrogate:

Sending enormous #congratulations 🥳🎉to our amazing @Lionesses – including of course #Harrogate’s own @RachelDaly3 🤩😍 – for your fantastic & historic victory last night, making #England Champions of Europe! #WEuro2022 #Lionesses https://t.co/GoqNHEWNQt

— Visit Harrogate (@VisitHarrogate) August 1, 2022

There have been calls in Scarborough to give their local Lioness, Beth Mead, the freedom of the town.

The Stray Ferret asked Harrogate Borough Council if there were any plans to mark Daly’s achievement or put on a homecoming parade, but had not received a response at the time of publication.

However, the authority did share a tribute on Twitter:

Congratulations to @RachelDaly3 and all the @Lionesses on such an incredible achievement!#̵I̵t̵s̵C̵o̵m̵i̵n̵g̵H̵o̵m̵e̵ #ItsHome https://t.co/5X7XzdMTxs

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) August 1, 2022