Police commissioner proposes £10 council tax hike

North Yorkshire’s police commissioner has proposed a £10 hike in the force’s share of council tax.

The proposal would see the rate increase to £281.06 from April this year.

Zoe Metcalfe, the Conservative police, fire and crime commissioner, is expected to agree the proposal at a meeting of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel on February 7.

A report due before the meeting said the increase would help the force hit targets for officer recruitment and pay as set by government.

It said:

“This will provide sufficient funding to deliver the increased levels of police officers, as required by the government, the expected increase in pay, the unavoidable increase in National Insurance contributions whilst also meeting some significant increases in non-pay inflation.”

Meanwhile, Ms Metcalfe will also propose a 1.98% increase in the fire service council tax precept – which would see bills rise to £75.61.

Planned council tax hikes 2022/23

The service is currently running at a £1 million deficit and can only hike its share of the rate by 1.99%, under government rules.

The commissioner’s office also warned councillors at a meeting earlier this month that the service faces borrowing up to £33 million after ministers abolished its capital grant.

Ms Metcalfe described the funding settlement for the fire service as “very unfair” and pledged to lobby government for more support.

Council tax hikes

Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner have all proposed increasing their share of council tax this year.

It means taxpayers across the district will face a bill of nearly £2,100 this year.

Local precepts for parish and town councils, such as Ripon City Council, will also be included on bills.

Final decisions on council tax rates from all public authorities will be made in February.

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Inquest hears tributes to bikers killed in head-on collision in Masham

The families of two bikers who died in a head-on collision near Masham have paid tributes at a joint inquest into their deaths, which concluded today.

Paramedics certified Martin Ragg, who was from the Ripon area, and Michael ‘Mick’ Lynas, who was from the Thirsk area, dead at the scene of the collision on the A1608 on Sunday, April 25 in 2021.

Coroner Oliver Longstaff submitted written evidence and questioned a collision investigator from North Yorkshire Police at the inquest.

The inquest heard how the crash happened at a blind summit close to the Brymor Ice Cream parlour and that Mr Ragg had been attempting to overtake a car before he moved one and a half metres into the oncoming lane before the crash.

Both men died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Mr Longstaff said:

“The point of an inquest is not to apportion blame but to determine the facts which lead up to the deaths.

“On the balance of probabilities the collision happened in the northbound carriageway and Mr Ragg was on the wrong side of the road.

“What strikes me is, from listening to what both families have said, that these two men would have got on quite well and become good friends if they had ever met.

“I hope it is some comfort to know that they both died instantly while doing something they loved.”

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Tina Lynas, who was the wife of Mick Lynas, said:

“Mick was passionate about motorcycles — in fact, much to the shock of my mum, he picked me up for our first date on a motorcycle. He was a great rider and never a risk taker.

“He collected motorcycles and at the time of his passing he had 13 in his possession. On the day of the crash he went out with his daughter Eve on a separate bike to meet his friends in Masham. He was then going to see family in Middlesbrough.

“I was just getting to leave to meet him there when I took a call from Eve. Mick’s passing has left a huge hole in our hearts. He was a loving man, full of life. He was community driven and would do anything for anyone.”

‘Lives shattered in an instant’

Jayne Ragg, who was the wife of Martin Ragg, said:

“Our lives were shattered in an instant. Martin often left early for his trips and did not want to wake me up when he headed out. So I didn’t even get to say goodbye to him.

“He had a fantastic sense of humour and he was a larger-than-life character who loved his family with all his heart.

“We have raised more than £7,000 for Brake, a road safety charity, and Yorkshire Air Ambulance. We also sent £2,000 to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance separately.”

Three teens arrested after missiles thrown from Harrogate Theatre roof

Police have arrested three youths after reports that building materials were thrown off the roof of Harrogate Theatre.

The incident happened at around 4am this morning. A resident who lives nearby sent a video to the Stray Ferret of what appears to be broken tiles littering Cheltenham Parade.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue sent a crew from the Harrogate station to the scene. They managed to get the youths down from the six-storey building before leaving them with the police.

A £1 million refurbishment of the 120-year-old roof of the theatre is due to be completed in March. It is unclear whether this incident will affect the timescale.

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A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“Shortly before 4am Tuesday 25 January 2022, police were called to reports of young people on the roof of Harrogate Theatre on Cheltenham Parade, Harrogate.

“The group were believed to be throwing projectiles from the roof.

“Officers attended with colleagues from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and the young people were brought safely to the ground.

“Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with this incident.”

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said:

“A crew from Harrogate were mobilised to assist police with searching a six-storey property following reports of youths on the roof possibly stealing roof materials.

“Crews set up the aerial ladder platform to be used as a lighting platform to assist with the search. The youths were left in the care of the police.”

Police case on missing Harrogate woman ‘remains open’

North Yorkshire Police issued a statement today saying its investigation into missing Harrogate woman Marsha Wray remains open, 25 years to the day since her disappearance.

Marsha, 38, went missing after dropping off her two children at Hookstone Chase primary school on Friday, January 24 1997.

A few days after her disappearance, her red Metro Quest car was seen parked at Nidd Gorge. It was later recovered in Headingley, although who moved it there remains a mystery.

There have been no sightings since and no body has ever been found.

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Adam Harland, of North Yorkshire Police’s cold case review team, said:

“The case surrounding the death of Marsha Wray has been reviewed on previous occasions.

“Despite extensive investigations and appeals, the case remains open.

“We are open to any new information leading to evidence in relation to the case.”

Marsha worked as a nurse at Harrogate District Hospital. Her husband of 17 years, Colin, said she had told him she was going away for a few days.

Bilton man cleans graffiti from mural bridge again

A community-spirited Bilton man is determined to keep a mural looking its best after another attack by vandals.

Chris Knight was spurred into action today after the iron bridge, which connects Woodfield Drive and Claro Road, was defaced.

It is not the first time Mr Knight has cleaned the mural: he also cleaned the bridge when vandals painted a swastika and anti-Pakistani messages on it last year.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“Plenty of people were quite happy to see me cleaning the bridge today. It gives me quite the sense of achievement to do these things for the area.

“It did not take quite as long as last time, they must have used quite cheap paint. I am not one to wait around for other people to take action.

“The words of my old boss really stuck with me. There are three types of people — those who do things, those who watch people do things and those who wonder what happened.

“I have always wanted to be the type of person who can step-up.”

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Emma Garness, the artist who created the mural, used special paint to protect it from graffiti, which enables Mr Knight to clean it without damaging the artwork.

The mural, which was designed to become a beacon of positivity in the area, was well received by local residents.

Police say wanted man may be in Harrogate

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information to find a wanted man with links to Harrogate.

Andon Llalla, 40, is wanted on recall to prison. It is unclear what Llalla was jailed for.

Police initially asked for information on the whereabouts of Llalla in October. Officers today renewed their appeal to the public to come forward if they have seen him or know his whereabouts.

He also has links to Halifax and Brighouse in West Yorkshire.

A police statement added:

“If you see him or have information for the police, call North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference number 12210179751.

“To report information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

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Missing teen sighted at Harrogate train station this morning

Police are searching for a missing teenager who may be in the Harrogate area.

Benjamin Robert Leach, 16, has been reported missing after leaving a property in Selby on Wednesday, January 19.

Officers carried out enquiries and believe he is in the Harrogate area after a sighting at Harrogate train station in the early hours of this morning.

A North Yorkshire Police statement added:

“Benjamin is described as 5ft 5in tall, with short dark brown hair and brown eyes.

“Any immediate sightings should be reported to North Yorkshire Police via 999 quoting reference 12220010596. Any information which would assist officers to locate Benjamin should be reported via 101 quoting the same reference number.”

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Police recommend extra security for Harrogate mosque

Police have told the Muslim organisation planning to open the Harrogate district’s first mosque to include extra security measures due to safety fears.

Harrogate Islamic Association has applied for planning permission to convert the former Home Guard club on the corner of Tower Street and Belford Place into a place of worship.

As part of the planning process, the council consults some organisations to see if they lend support, recommend refusal or suggest alterations.

North Yorkshire Police has submitted a designing out crime report, which says the main crime associated with mosques is racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage.

It suggests that the plans include external lighting, iron railings, laminated glass, CCTV and intruder alarms.

Police also suggest an external post box to prevent arson.

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The mosque faces opposition from a leaflet campaign and Bristol planning expert Gavin Boby, who calls himself the Mosquebuster.

But many people posted supportive comments on social media when the Stray Ferret reported the opposition yesterday.

Harrogate Civic Society has also lent its support after rejecting two previous proposed sites for the mosque.

Henry Pankhurst, on behalf of the civic society, said:

“We are very hopeful that the building will be able to take its place, once repaired and refurbished, as a worthy neighbour to all of the notable nearby properties.

“Railings should be erected as above and windows should be of a design which is suitable for this historic building and the conservation area.

“Every care should be taken to preserve historic features internally as well as externally.”

North Yorkshire police officer touched breasts of woman he met on duty

A former North Yorkshire Police officer touched the breasts of a vulnerable woman he met on duty and discussed the possibility of forging a relationship with her.

PC Chris Bolton also exchanged sexual images with the woman, a misconduct hearing heard.

The hearing heard that PC Bolton interacted with the woman, known as Ms A, between August 13, 2020 and November 24, 2020,

He was also found to have dishonestly re-scored a risk assessment relating to Ms A on or around August 23.

The hearing took place at North Yorkshire Police headquarters in Northallerton last week. The panel concluded that the allegations had been proved and amounted to gross misconduct.

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It found PC Bolton breached standards for discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy, honesty and integrity and duties and responsibilities.

The panel concluded that, had Mr Bolton still been serving with North Yorkshire Police, he would have been dismissed.

It also ruled he will be placed on the College of Policing barred and advisory list.

Individuals remain on the list indefinitely, unless they win an appeal against their dismissal or make a successful review application, where they would have to provide clear evidence as to why they were now suitable to re-join policing.

North Yorkshire Police declined to reply to a question from the Stray Ferret asking where PC Bolton was based.

Five arrests amid ‘sharp rise’ in Harrogate burglaries

Police have arrested five people, including a 12-year-old boy, in connection with a spate of burglaries in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police revealed how officers have seen a sharp rise in burglaries in the town. The force said many of the properties targeted were insecure.

Officers believe the incidents are linked and have arrested a 12-year-old boy, two 15-year-old boys, a 16-year-old boy and an 18-year-old woman in the last four days.

Since the start of the year there have been burglaries on Butterbur Way, Hartwith Drive, Gentian Glade, Saltergate Drive, Woodfield Road, Pennywort Grove, Tewit Well Road, Kenilworth Avenue, Strawberry Dale Avenue, Carlton Road, West End Avenue, St Anthans Walks and Hutton Gate.

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Police released the above list in the hope that anyone with information or CCTV footage will come forward. Anyone who can help with the investigation should quote reference 12220008323.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“Before you go to bed tonight, please take a few minutes to secure doors and windows to your property, including garages, sheds and outbuildings.

“Also remove all valuables from your car or van and lock it. Move keys away from the door and windows where they can be seen and potentially accessed.

“If possible, secure your vehicles in a garage or behind a gate.”