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Jun 2020
North Yorkshire's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has urged residents to remember the potential consequences of flouting lockdown guidelines.
Julia Mulligan's warning comes after a weekend which saw groups gathering to drink along West Park, resulting in one pub being issued with a prohibition order.
She said police were doing all they could to respond to public concern but were only able to disperse large gatherings:
Harrogate’s Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Penny Taylor said officers had spent a busy weekend engaging with the public and explaining the importance of following regulations, as well as assisting Harrogate Borough Council's licensing team at two pubs. She said:
While six people have been allowed to meet outside from today, over the weekend the rules remained that people could only meet with one other person from outside their household. Ms Mulligan said the announcement that rules were going to change this week probably led to a greater number of people feeling safe to go out over the weekend and meet more people.
As well as central Harrogate, North Yorkshire Police said crowds were out in "unprecedented numbers" in Knaresborough at Conyngham Hall and the riverside, as well as Brimham Rocks. Outer Harrogate Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Steve Breen said:
With cooler temperatures forecast over the coming days, Ms Mulligan said she is hopeful that the scenes reported over the weekend will not be repeated. However, she said it was important for all authorities to work together, especially as people who have been kept in lockdown for weeks or months want to get out and are limited in the options available.
She added:
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