Police are investigating a suspected hate incident after a Nazi swastika flag was hung from a flat overlooking Harrogate Train Station.
The swastika appeared on Saturday and was visible to commuters until police removed it that night.
It was displayed from the window of a flat on East Parade, high above the train station.
North Yorkshire Police said in a statement last night:
“Police in Harrogate are investigating a suspected hate incident after a swastika flag was placed in the window of a flat near Harrogate Train Station on Saturday.
“Two separate complaints were made to North Yorkshire Police.
“Following enquiries, officers attended the property just before 10pm to remove the offensive item.”
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The spokesperson added:
“The matter is now subject to an investigation and the occupant of the flat, who was not present, will be spoken to in due course.
“Officers will also be taking formal statements from the two complainants during the week, as well as conducting further enquiries in the neighbourhood.”
‘We couldn’t believe it’
Harrogate man Thomas Norman, who reported the incident to police, was travelling to the Harrogate Brewing Co. beer festival on Saturday evening when he noticed the swastika at the station. He added:
“We couldn’t believe it at first and had to ask each other if it was what we thought it was, it was uncanny, I’ve never seen that in a real life context.”
It is the second time in just over a year a swastika has been displayed from a property in Harrogate.
On the previous occasion, the man responsible said it was a kriegsmarine flag which he put up to mark the sinking of the Bismarck ship.
Police asked witnesses to the latest incident, or anyone with information, to make a report via the North Yorkshire Police website or by calling 101, option 4.
If you would prefer to remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or make an online report.
Quote reference number 12230151540.
Police seek to identify man after homophobic chanting in HarrogateNorth Yorkshire Police want to speak to a man in relation to alleged homophobic chanting in Harrogate.
Police today issued a CCTV image of the man they want to talk to.
A statement said officers were investigating a possible hate crime. It added:
“The incident happened on King’s Road in Harrogate near Bambino’s takeaway around 11.45pm on 28 May 2022.
“A group of men were reported to be singing a homophobic chant.”
The statement urged anyone with information to email geeta.maharjan@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101, select option 2 and ask for 0740.
Or, if you’d prefer to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 1222009231.
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Police: no rise in far right activity in Harrogate district
North Yorkshire Police has said there is nothing to suggest an increase in far right activity in the Harrogate district despite several shocking incidents this year.
The Stray Ferret has reported three instances of swastikas and anti-semitic slogans appearing in Harrogate and Knaresborough in 2021, including one last weekend.
In addition, racist stickers appeared on the window of a disused shop on James Street in September.
A Freedom of Information request to the police revealed it had logged just five incidents of anti-Jewish hate crime in total in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
So far this year swastikas have appeared on Trefoil Drive and Bilton Lane in January, on the iron bridge in Bilton in August and on Knaresborough castle last weekend.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said:
“These incidents are clearly abhorrent and disturbing. We can assure the local community that the police take such matters extremely seriously.
“It is unclear what the motivation was behind the recent incidents in Knaresborough, and it is not yet known if they are linked or have any connection with the previous incidents of this nature at Harrogate.
“However, there is nothing to suggest an increase in extreme right-wing ideologies or activity in the local area.”
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The constabulary urged residents to report hate-related incidents, such as graffiti and criminal damage, by dialling 101.
The Stray Ferret approached the Harrogate Hebrew congregation to ask if it had noticed any increase in ant-semitic activity but it declined to comment.
The swastikas and a vile anti-semitic message sprayed on Knaresborough castle last weekend have now been removed.
Police said a 49-year-old man was arrested in connection with the attacks in January and remains under investigation.
Only 17% of Harrogate hate crime reports lead to chargesA total of 264 hate crimes were reported in the Harrogate district in the last three years — but fewer than two in 10 led to a charge.
One hundred and sixty seven of the reports were for racial hate crimes, 32 were for homophobia and 20 related to disabled people. There were also 13 reports relating to Muslims and eight relating to trans people.
In total, 46 charges were brought, which represents 17 per cent of the number of complaints made.
The Stray Ferret obtained the figures, which cover 2017, 2018, and 2019, from North Yorkshire Police through the Freedom of Information Act.
The number of reported hate crimes was stable in each of the three years but the number of reports that led to a charge decreased from 21 in 2017 to nine in 2019.
The police cited a variety of reasons for not bringing charges, including being unable to identify the suspect, the victim deciding not to support police action, and community resolutions.
Crown Prosecution Service figures show that the national conviction rate for hate crimes in 2018/19 was 84.3%.
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Hate crime often involves verbal or physical abuse but can also cover vandalism, criminal damage, graffiti, arson, cyberbullying, offensive communications, threats of attack, or financial exploitation.
This week is National Hate Crime Awareness Week and superintendent Mark Khan, North Yorkshire Police’s lead for hate crime, said he wanted the public to feel confident reporting hate crime.
He said:
“Hate crime has a devastating impact on its victims, their families and their communities.
“It’s so important that we do not let this type of behaviour go unnoticed or unchallenged. Reporting hate crime is everyone’s business. We want people in Harrogate, and across North Yorkshire, to report it – and to feel confident reporting it.
“So whether you are a victim of any kind of hate crime, or have witnessed a hate crime incident, no matter how insignificant it may seem, we would urge you to call the police, via 101 or 999 in an emergency.
“If you do not wish to speak to the police, contact Supporting Victims in North Yorkshire or visit True Vision, who can both be contacted confidentially and can offer support and advice.”