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    28

    May 2022

    Last Updated: 27/05/2022
    Crime
    Crime

    Rough sleepers and drugs found in Harrogate's Pinewoods

    by John Plummer

    | 28 May, 2022
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    Pinewoods Conservation Group is urging people to report anti-social behaviour after recently discovering drugs, graffiti, illegal campers and fires in the 96-acre woodland.

    pienwoodstents
    The pictures of the suspected drugs and tents in the Pinewoods.

    Pinewoods Conservation Group has urged people to report anti-social behaviour after rough sleepers and drugs were found in the woodland.

    Pictures seen by the Stray Ferret show Harrogate Borough Council staff moving a tent, which had been set up in the woods.

    Inside the tents were drug paraphernalia and rubbish left in the woodland, including food and sleeping bags.

    Other pictures showed graffiti defacing the Pinewoods map.

    The graffiti on the Pinewoods map.

    The graffiti on the Pinewoods map.



    The borough council and North Yorkshire Police were both alerted to the rough sleepers this month.

    The tents were later moved, however the Stray Ferret understands the process took longer than expected due to the availability of council street cleansing teams.



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    A man in the 96-acre woodland was detained by police last week after residents reported gunshots being fired. But he was later released without charge.

    A spokesperson for the Pinewoods Conservation Group said it had reported a number of anti-social behaviour incidents in recent months.

    They said:

    “Whilst the recent reported incident fortunately didn’t materialise into anything serious we are still asking our members and visitors to report anything suspicious and any anti-social behaviour to the police via 101, or 999 if an emergency, and Harrogate council customer services. 
    “We have reported a number of incidents in recent months from graffiti, illegal campers, groups congregating and setting fires plus clear evidence of drug use. It is only with the help of others we can continue to keep the Pinewoods a safe and enjoyable area for the community.”


    A council spokesperson said: 

    “We have accommodation and support available for all rough sleepers.
    “Once we are made aware of someone sleeping rough in the Harrogate district, our housing options team work in partnership with the police and partner agencies in an attempt to persuade them to accept support.
    “We have hostels in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough and have most recently opened Fern House in Starbeck, our purpose-built temporary accommodation with 19 self-contained bedrooms. Additional to this, we can offer a complete support package for individuals who are homeless which includes health and wellbeing, support for any mental health issues, financial guidance as well as any further advice or information they may require.
    "As a result of this holistic approach it means that we can try to identify the cause of each individual’s circumstances in a bid to help them find permanent secure accommodation.”