Harrogate council charge police over £110,000 for CCTV since 2016

Harrogate Borough Council has charged North Yorkshire Police over £110,000 to check and supply its CCTV footage since 2016, the Stray Ferret can reveal.

The council has a network of 212 CCTV cameras across the district to help prevent and detect crime. It has a manned control room that operates 24/7.

But it does not supply footage to the police for free and last month the Stray Ferret reported it asks the force to pay a fee of £57 per hour for the service.

We submitted a freedom of information request to the council that asked how much it has charged North Yorkshire Police in total since 2016.

The answer revealed a total bill of £114,005, which amounts to about £20,000 a year on average. The sum fell noticeably during covid lockdowns in 2021/22.

The annual breakdown is below:

Crime prevention

Ripon has been plagued by well-documented anti-social behaviour and crime in recent years.

The council operates 10 CCTV cameras in the city but Andrew Williams, the leader of Ripon City Council and the North Yorkshire county councillor for Ripon Minster and Moorside, said the charge deters police from following up crime reports.

He said:

“It is ironic that Harrogate Borough Council’s homes and safer communities team appears more interested in making commercial charges to the police, rather than working in partnership with them to help in the detection and arrest of criminals.”

Andrew Williams

Cllr Andrew Williams

Cllr Williams calculated that the £18,354 charge for the last financial year worked out at less than one hour of CCTV footage a day.

He suggested this means NYP is being selective in which footage it requests and could be missing out on catching criminals.

He added:

“When considering the size of the Harrogate district and the number of CCTV cameras installed across it, that indicates that police, with pressure on their budgets, are having to be selective in their purchasing of footage and only calling on the services of the HBC CCTV monitoring team for the most serious incidents that they are investigating.”

“At a public meeting in Ripon last month, police admitted that nobody had been arrested for the vandal attacks, in part because they could not pinpoint the exact time of each incident and would have to go through hours of footage, which would not necessarily provide the quality of footage required to identify an individual or individuals.”

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‘Shameful’ charges

Business owner Andrew Hart, who owns the Red Box post offices in Bilton and Starbeck, has previously raised concerns about anti-social behaviour in both areas.

Mr Hart has two private CCTV cameras in his post offices. He said he supplies any footage to the police for free if they ask for it and called the council’s decision to charge “shameful”.

The council currently operates one CCTV camera in Starbeck.

Andrew Hart

He said:

“We are often needing to refer back to our two CCTV systems on both police and private request. It is something we do out of a sense of duty to both the community and in our joint responsibility to fight anti-social behaviour.

“Yes, it takes time and costs us money but we all have to do our bit, surely. I think it is shameful that any council should charge our grossly overstretched police for this service.”

Council’s response

A council spokesperson said:

“CCTV across the Harrogate district, which is owned and managed by Harrogate Borough Council, has ongoing infrastructure and running costs.

“As well as the costs to maintain the service, there are also costs associated with a CCTV control room, staffing and the on-going safe storage of footage.

“Should anyone wish to obtain a copy of any footage, this would require an appropriate individual reviewing it first, followed by providing the footage securely along with a witness statement. All while adhering to the Data Protection Act 1998.

“Therefore, any third-party that wishes to view and use any CCTV footage – such as an insurance company, enforcement agency or the police – is charged to do so.”

North Yorkshire Police declined to comment.

Suspected drunk driver hits two cars and demolishes wall after Harrogate driveway crash

An 18-year-old man has been arrested after crashing into a Harrogate driveway this week and hitting two parked cars and demolishing a wall.

The driver was in a black Audi A1 when he drove onto the driveway on Kingsley Drive just before 1am yesterday, Wednesday, June 22.

The driver hit the cars with such force he reportedly damaged the garage door behind them too.

He attempted to flee the scene but, with the arrival of other officers and a police dog, a man matching his description was found nearby.

An 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, and has since been released under investigation while the investigation continues.

Anyone with information should call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and use crime reference number 12220107265.

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Harrogate murder trial hears that body was found in a rug

A court heard today how a suspected murder victim in Harrogate was found wrapped up in a rug in a flat on Mayfield Grove after one of his alleged killers told somebody nearby, “I killed a man”.

Vitalijus Koreiva, 36, and Jaroslaw Rutowicz, 38, are accused of murdering Gracijus Balciauskas on December 20 last year.

The trial at Leeds Crown Court, which began today and is due to last for 10 days, tracked the movements of the three men on CCTV.

The court heard a witness statement from an employee at Asda on Bower Road, who found an agitated Mr Rutowicz sitting on a wall by the supermarket on the evening when Mr Balciauskas died.

The employee said Mr Rutowicz appeared to have been drinking and told her “I think I’ve killed a man.”

The court was also played a recording of a 999 call from Mr Rutowicz that took place when he was outside Asda that evening. He told a call handler: “The guy, he’s dead. No, it was an accident. We drink something.”

Two police officers then met Mr Rutowicz at Asda who then walked with him to Mayfield Grove.

Inside, they found Mr Balciauskas wrapped in a rug dead. Mr Rutowicz, of no fixed address, and Mr Koreiva, of Mayfield Grove, were then arrested on suspicion of murder.

Timeline of events

Detective Constable Christopher Williams, from North Yorkshire Police, was cross-examined by prosecuting solicitor Katherine Robinson who went through a timeline of events that led to the arrest.

CCTV captured the last time Mr Balciauskas was seen alive when he went to the Polish shop next door to the flat at 1pm on December 19.

Mr Rutowicz was seen later that evening collecting a pizza takeaway and returning to the property.

In the early hours of the following morning, Mr Koreiva was seen on CCTV pacing around the property before going back inside. At around 3am the pair were seen buying bottles of alcohol and returning.

The next day, Mr Koreiva was filmed visiting the Polish shop next door in his dressing gown and Mr Rutowicz was seen buying more alcohol using the bank card of the suspected victim.

Videos on phone

This morning the court were shown films retrieved from Mr Rutowicz’s phone, timestamped at 5am and 7am on December 20.

They showed Mr Balciauskas still alive but beaten with bruises all over his hands and face whilst inside the Mayfield Grove flat.

The videos showed the two men attempting to give Mr Balciauskas cigarettes and something to drink.

Police later retrieved a photo of the victim taken at 12.04pm that day where he was apparently dead and wrapped in a rug.

More alcohol

An hour before the videos of Mr Balciauskas beaten but still alive were filmed, Mr Rutowicz and Mr Koreiva were seen on CCTV ordering a taxi to Pannal’s BP petrol station to buy more alcohol before returning to the property.

Mr Rutowicz was seen leaving Mayfield Grove at around 10am the next day to buy more alcohol. He was again seen using Mr Balciauskas’s bank card to buy more alcohol at 2pm.

At around 11pm, Mr Rutowicz was captured on CCTV leaving the flat to go to Asda on Bower Street when the 999 call took place.

Arresting officer PC Joseph Horne gave a statement to the court that said Mr Rutowicz was crying and talking on the way to the police station.

PC Horne said:

“I couldn’t understand what he was saying because of his thick accent. When in custody he said ‘It was an accident, my brother is dead I will show you how he did it’.”

The trial continues tomorrow.

Boy, 11, and man seriously injured after blade incident in Beckwithshaw

A boy and a man have been taken to hospital with serious injuries after a major incident in Beckwithshaw this morning.

Armed officers and a police helicopter were deployed at about 8.20am to a house on Church Row in the village.

North Yorkshire Police released a statement minutes ago saying an 11-year-old boy and 40-year-old man had suffered “serious injuries believed to be sustained by a bladed article”.

Both males have been taken to hospital and police remain on the scene.

The statement said:

“Officers were called to a property in Church Row, Otley Road, at 8.20am today and on arrival found an 11-year-old boy and 40-year-old man with serious injuries believed to be sustained by a bladed article.

“Both males have been taken to hospital.

“The incident is not connected to the nearby school.”

This morning, the Stray Ferret received reports of numerous emergency services vehicles and an air ambulance attending the scene.

A police cordon is in place and the road from the roundabout near the cricket club to the junction with Shaw Lane was closed.

One villager told the Stray Ferret the road had reopened.

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Officer who downloaded indecent images ‘betrayed the trust of North Yorkshire Police’

A senior North Yorkshire Police officer has said former officer Christopher Groom ‘betrayed public trust and betrayed North Yorkshire Police’ after he was given a community order for downloading indecent images of children.

Leeds Magistrates Court heard yesterday how Groom, 41, searched the internet for images of youngsters using search terms such as ‘naked young teens’ and ‘youngest naked models’.

Analysis of Groom’s computer tower revealed that he had downloaded 8,707 Category C images of children over what is thought to be a seven-year period.

District Judge Richard Kitson told Groom, of Main Street, Claxton, he would not be sending him to jail because the probation service said he was at low risk of reoffending and could be rehabilitated in the community.

Mabs Hussain

Mabs Hussain

Following the end of the court case, North Yorkshire Police deputy chief constable Mabs Hussain said the force “demands the highest level of integrity from our officers and staff.”

He added:

“This is essential to ensure the communities we are proud to serve have complete trust in their police service.

“The abhorrent and criminal actions of Groom have betrayed that public trust and he has betrayed North Yorkshire Police.”

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Groom resigned from North Yorkshire Police ahead of his first court appearance on May 18.

An accelerated misconduct hearing will now be considered by the Chief Constable and the professional standards department.

Groom was investigated by NYP’s online abuse and exploitation team.

Detective Sergeant Steve Alderson said:

“The fact that Groom was a serving North Yorkshire Police officer made no difference to how we conducted the investigation.

“He was treated the same as any other member of the public who become subject to a criminal inquiry and court proceedings.

“This case shows the determination of North Yorkshire Police to secure justice against those involved in indecent images of children offences, no matter who they are.”

Police officer avoids jail after downloading 8,000 indecent images of children

A North Yorkshire Police officer who downloaded more than 8,000 indecent images of children has avoided a prison sentence.

Christopher Groom, 41, of Main Street, Claxton, trawled the internet for images of youngsters using search terms such as ‘naked young teens’ and ‘youngest naked models’, Leeds Magistrates Court heard today.

Among the photos downloaded by Groom were sexual images of children between eight and 14-years-old, said prosecutor Charles Macrae.

Groom, who has since resigned from the force, was arrested after police from North Yorkshire’s online abuse team searched his home on December 16, 2021. They seized a computer tower and a mobile phone and took the devices away for analysis.

Groom was brought in for questioning and gave a prepared statement but denied he had been searching for indecent images of children and said he was “shocked” images were found on his device.

Forensic analysis of Groom’s computer tower revealed that he had downloaded 8,707 Category C images of children over what is thought to be a seven-year period.

Mr Macrae said that “file names and internet searches associated with child sexual abuse” were found on the tower.

He was interviewed again in January after the forensic report and provided a further prepared statement in which he claimed he had “not deliberately sought out” indecent images.

Groom, of Main Street, Claxton, was charged with one count of making indecent images of minors between December 2014 and November 2021. He admitted the offence and appeared for sentence today.

Following his arrest, Groom claimed he had initially downloaded what he thought was legal pornography only to find it contained indecent images.

However, the forensic report debunked his claims that the downloads were accidental because “the searches had been made where such (indecent) images were likely to be”.

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Matthew Savage, mitigating, said Groom was now a changed man having voluntarily enrolled on an offenders’ prevention course. He added Groom had resigned from the force because he “felt that his position was untenable”. Mr Savage said:

“He remains deeply embarrassed and ashamed about his behaviour.”

He said Groom “understands fully the impact that this type of offending has” and that his arrest and subsequent conviction had been a “very salutary lesson”.

‘Not a victimless crime’

District judge Richard Kitson said the huge number of images was an “aggravating factor” in Groom’s despicable offences:

 “You understand that this is not a victimless crime. At some point, these photographs had been taken of very real children who have suffered that abuse.

“You were a police officer for a number of years and you have now lost that. Not only have you lost that employment, the public have lost what under other circumstances was a very good and brave police officer. You were a man not only of good character, but positive character.”

Mr Kitson told Groom he would not be sending him to jail because the probation service said he was at low risk of reoffending and could be rehabilitated in the community.

He said he had also taken account of the steps that Groom had taken to address his offending and his early guilty plea.

Instead, Groom was given an 18-month community order which includes 30 rehabilitation-activity days and 150 hours’ unpaid work.

He was also ordered to sign on the sex-offenders’ register for five years and made subject to a five-year sexual-harm prevention order to allow police to monitor his internet activities.

As part of his notification requirements, Groom will have to periodically report to Scarborough Police Station.

Man, 67, pleads not guilty to sexual act in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens

A 67-year-old man pleaded not guilty in court today to performing a sexual act in Valley Gardens.

Kevin Payne, from Ling Park Avenue, Bingley, was charged with outraging public decency and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

A member of the public reported seeing a man carrying out a sexual act on Sunday afternoon at the popular family venue.

North Yorkshire Police subsequently arrested Mr Payne and charged him with the two offences.

Appearing at York Magistrates Court this morning, he pleaded not guilty to both charges and was sent for trial at York Crown Court on July 11.

He will remain in custody until the hearing.

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Man arrested on suspicion of indecent exposure in Valley Gardens

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of indecent exposure in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens.

Officers were alerted to the incident, which happened in the gardens on Sunday (June 12).

A 67-year-old man from Bradford was arrested on suspicion of outraging public decency and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

North Yorkshire Police added in a statement:

“Officers would like to thank the quick-thinking members of the public who alerted us to the man and helped detain him.

“He remains in police custody whilst enquiries continue.”

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Harrogate police officer pleads not guilty to sexual assault

A Harrogate police officer pleaded not guilty in court today after being charged with sexually assaulting a woman.

Joseph McCabe, 27, of Starbeck, is currently suspended from duty as a North Yorkshire Police officer based in Harrogate.

The officer appeared before York Magistrates Court this morning charged with sexual assault by touching. The case concerns an alleged incident at a North Yorkshire property last summer.

Prosecutor Charlotte Dangerfield said Mr McCabe, was allegedly “trying to stroke” the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

It was also alleged that he was pulling at her hair, added Ms Dangerfield. She alleged that Mr McCabe was trying to have sex with the woman who was unwilling.

The defendant’s solicitor, Mr Hague, claimed the incident was “not sexual in nature” and added:

“He [Mr McCabe] thought there was going to be sexual interaction (but) she rejected it and he respected that”.

The magistrate questioned Mr Hague about the relationship between the defendant and the woman. Mr Hague responded and said:

“It had been a friendship for sometime with regular friendly communication, just a typical workplace relationship.”

Mr McCabe is set to appear before York Magistrates Court again on October 11 and has been released on unconditional bail.

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Harrogate police officer charged with sexual assault

A Harrogate police officer is to appear in court this week charged with sexual assault.

Joseph McCabe, of Kingsley Park Road, Starbeck, will appear at York Magistrates Court on Thursday.

He is accused of touching without consent at Scotch Corner Services, near Richmond, in August last year.

The 27-year-old officer is a serving North Yorkshire Police officer based at Harrogate police station.

He is currently suspended from duty.

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