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Mar 2021

Last Updated: 03/03/2021

Crime

Harrogate man speeding at 126mph was also breaking lockdown rules

by Connor Creaghan

| 03 Mar, 2021

The couple told police they 'just wanted to go for a drive'. North Yorkshire Police said today the number of covid fines has increased by 33% in the last week, due mainly to warmer weather.

Police in Scarborough.

A Harrogate man broke lockdown and speeding rules when he was caught driving at 126 miles an hour on the way to Scarborough.

North Yorkshire Police said today the man had picked up a woman from York and they were on their way to Scarborough when they were caught near Stainton.

When questioned by officers they explained that they "just wanted to go for a drive", which was not considered to be a reasonable excuse for being outside during lockdown.

Sergeant Daniel Thompson, of Scarborough's neighbourhood policing team, said at a North Yorkshire coronavirus press briefing today:

"One of the safety cameras on the A64 sighted a vehicle travelling at 126mph. I managed to stop that vehicle as it approached Stainton.

"There were two people in the vehicle. A man who travelled from Harrogate who picked up the woman from York. They were travelling from York to Scarborough for a drive.

"That was the only purpose. They were from two different households and travelled significant distance. The speeding was putting themselves and others at risk.

"Just going for a drive was not a reasonable excuse. We tell these people to just do their bit and as the police we will continue to do our bit."

Police and public health leaders are increasingly concerned about the number of people breaking lockdown rules as the weather improves.

Matt Hancock praises Harrogate’s rapid vaccine response

Harrogate district records fewest covid cases for six months

North Yorkshire Police said today it has handed out 255 lockdown fines in the last seven days, which is a 33% increase on last week.

Superintendent Mike Walker, North Yorkshire Police's lead on the coronavirus response, said:

"We are starting to see a concerning trend. Over the last few weeks we have reported increasing numbers of fines that the police are handing out.

"There has been a significant upturn in the numbers. We handed out 255 fines in the last week, with 169 in the last weekend alone.

"We believe the figures are influenced by the good weather but officers are reporting that there has been a change of behaviour since the government released its roadmap."

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Harrogate man speeding at 126mph was also breaking lockdown rules

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