Ripon construction worker died from head injuries, inquest told

A construction worker who died on a building site in Ripon has been named at the opening of an inquest today.

Dean Christopher Myers, 56, died on January 13 at the site on the corner of Whitcliffe Avenue and Harrogate Road.

The inquest at Northallerton heard that Mr Myers, from Scotton, is suspected to have died from a severe head injury.

John Broadbridge, assistant coroner for North Yorkshire and York, said:

“While in the course of his work as a ground worker for a construction company, he was struck by a moving bucket on a digger.

“The cause of death, which is yet to be fully determined, was provisionally found to be a severe head injury and blunt force trauma.”

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The inquest, which will determine the cause of death, was adjourned until a later date.

North Yorkshire Police issued a brief statement the day after the incident saying:

“Police were called to a report of an industrial incident in Ripon at about 10.30am on Wednesday.

“A man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Enquiries are ongoing jointly with the Health and Safety Executive.”

Police to ‘clamp down’ on rising criminal activity in Ripon

North Yorkshire Police has said it will be “clamping down” on the troublemakers after a series of incidents in Ripon.

The force said “antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated” following a spike in criminality in recent weeks.

Crimes have included street robberies, assaults on the public and emergency workers, with reports of knives and machetes being used.

Groups of youths are reported to have been breaching lockdown rules and congregating in the market square and bus station.

The police has said a new operation has been introduced to tackle the rise in crime which includes an increase in officers in the city.

The force added this is not a long-term solution and it will continue working with key partners on long term plans to safeguard Ripon residents.

Inspector Alex Langley has spoken out about the increase in criminality in the city. He said:

“Groups of youths have been breaching Covid regulations by congregating in in the Market Square, the bus station, and Bondgate to name a few.

“Whilst we cannot always inform the public of some of the positive results we see due to ongoing investigations and court processes, please rest assured this operation has already seen results.”

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Insp Langley went on to assure residents it is only a small handful of people responsible and the force will continue to patrol and take action to prevent crime.

Addressing young people directly, he said:

“If you commit anti-social behaviour and mindless act of theft and criminal damage we will take every opportunity to investigate and prosecute you.

“As a young person you may not realise that throwing that stone or stealing some alcohol may result in a criminal record. Please stop and think about the consequences of your actions and how your decisions today could impact on your future.”

People can continue to report crime via 101 and 999 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to remain anonymous.

‘Not the time’ to pay more for North Yorkshire policing

Now is the not the time to hand North Yorkshire’s taxpayers another significant increase in the police precept, the county’s police commissioner has said.

Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said the force had already had increases in the police precept in recent years and is expecting further funding for more officers.

She told a meeting of the North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Panel that it was not the time to put a “significant tax burden” on the county during a pandemic.

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The panel agreed a 1.99% increase in the precept for 2021/22 – which will set the rate at £271.06 for a band D property.

Commissioners across the country were given flexibility to increase police precepts by a maximum of £15, which would have resulted in a 5.64% hike in North Yorkshire.

But Mrs Mulligan said the force was well funded and would have to deal with a smaller budget this year.

She said:

“I am really, really mindful at the moment that having had significant increases in the past and the service being relatively well funded that now is not the time to put a signifiant tax burden on the public of North Yorkshire and York.”

Ms Mulligan added that she recognised the proposed increase of 1.99% was “not generous”, but said the force would have to “work hard” to offer services within its budget.

Meanwhile, Michael Porter, chief finance officer for the commissioner, said the response to precept consultation showed that the public was not as supportive of an increase as in recent years.

It comes taxpayers in Harrogate could be set to pay an average of more than £2,000 on their council tax bills this year.

North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council have planned increases in their share of council tax.

Councillors on both authorities will vote on the proposed increases at budget meetings later this month.

Elderly man died in fatal Harrogate crash

An 81-year-old man who was struck by a car in Harrogate yesterday afternoon has died.

North Yorkshire Police say the victim was crossing the road from The Woodlands Hotel pub towards Hookstone Chase just before 5pm when the crash happened.

An ambulance took him to hospital, where he later died.

Officers closed off the road near to the Esso garage for several hours while they carried out their investigations on Thursday.

It reopened later at around 1am this morning.

The crash involved a grey Audi A3 that was travelling down Wetherby Road out of the town centre.

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Police say the 35-year-old driver of the Audi is assisting them with their enquiries. The force did not say whether it had made any arrests.

North Yorkshire Police has asked witnesses or anyone with dash-cam footage to call on 101 and quote 12210053250.

Alternatively, if you would like to speak anonymously then call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Gross misconduct hearing for Harrogate crash detective

A police officer found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in Harrogate is set to face a gross misconduct inquiry.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it has recommended the inquiry into Detective Constable Quita Passmore after investigating the collision.

North Yorkshire Police had already said an internal investigation would be held, but the IOPC today confirmed its recommendation for a gross misconduct inquiry had been accepted by the force. The organisation had passed its findings to the Crown Prosecution Service, saying DC Passmore had driven through a red light at high speed without stopping, colliding with another car.

IOPC Regional Director Miranda Biddle said:

“We recognise that police officers undertake a difficult role within our communities however it is necessary that when undertaking their role they follow the policies, procedures and guidance set by their forces. On this occasion our investigation found that DC Passmore drove dangerously when responding to an emergency call which resulted in two members of the public receiving serious injuries.

“The two women and their families have understandably suffered a great deal of stress and anxiety since the incident and we hope that [this] verdict offers them a degree of closure.

“We believe that DC Passmore has a case to answer for gross misconduct. North Yorkshire Police have accepted our recommendation and a hearing will be scheduled by them in due course.”

DC Passmore was this week handed a 10-month jail sentence suspended for two years after being found guilty at a trial at Bradford Crown Court. She was banned from driving for two years, after which she will have to take an enhanced driving test.

The court heard she was responding to an emergency call and driving through the junction of Otley Road and Cold Bath Road in May 2018. She hit a red Vauxhall Corsa, causing broken bones and a punctured lung to driver Patricia Bulmer and passenger Janet Roberton. DC Passmore was also injured.

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Appeal after man hit by white van in Harrogate

Police are appealing for information after a man was hit by a white van in Harrogate this morning.

North Yorkshire Police said the incident happened at around 9am on Regent Parade.

Officers said the man was pushed into a parked car following the collision and injured his foot.

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A statement from the force said:

“Around 9am on Friday, February 5 a white van collided with a male pedestrian on Regent Parade in Harrogate. The man was pushed into a parked car as a result of the collision and injured his foot.

“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“In particular, we are appealing for information about a white van that was in the area at the time.”

Anyone with information should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two, and ask for Geeta Maharjan. You can also email geeta.maharjan2@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

To report information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12210053525.

Police appeal after man punched and spat at in Ripon

Police are appealing for help to trace a man following an assault in Ripon.

A man was punched and spat at by another man on Bondgate in the city, on Friday, November 27 last year, around 2.30am.

North Yorkshire Police has now issued an appeal for witnesses and information to help with its investigation, saying:

“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and in particular we are appealing for anyone who can identify the man pictured as we believe he may have information which could help the investigation.”

Anyone with information should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two, and ask for Katie Bell. You can also email katarina.bell@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

Alternatively, to report information anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200211252.

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Rise in fraud and stalking reports as North Yorkshire crime rates fall

Crime across North Yorkshire fell by 9% in the year to September 2020, according to the latest data.

Using statistics for crimes reported to police forces across the country, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 42,879 crimes were reported in the county up to September 2020, compared to 47,368 up to September 2019.

Among the most significant falls were burglary, which fell by 30%, theft from person, which dropped by 49%, and shoplifting, which dropped by 28%. Reports of sexual offences also declined by 16%.

However, there were increases in the number of violent crimes reported, with stalking and harassment increasing by 19% year on year. Fraud and crimes relating to computer misuse rose by 32% compared to the previous year.

Drug offences rose by 13%, there was an 18% rise in reports of possession of offensive weapons, and an increase of 12% in public order offences.

North Yorkshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Phil Cain said:

“We believe stalking and harassment offences have continued to rise due to the fact victims have increased confidence in reporting it. The increase can also be attributed to the requirement to record multiple crimes where stalking and/or harassment has occurred, rather than simply one crime per incident.

“With drugs offences, the rise reflects our pro-active approach to dealing with drugs issues such as county lines. This issue causes a disproportionate amount of harm to local communities and increases the fear of crime – this is why county lines continues to remain a priority.

“My thanks go to the public for providing the community intelligence which enables this pro-active work to be carried out. This intelligence is key to us achieving these results.”

He said while the first lockdown had reduced many areas of crime, there was a significant rise in people being stopped by officers at some of the county’s beauty spots last summer. Taking increased enforcement action led to the number of public order offences being higher than the previous year.

Low crime rate

North Yorkshire remains one of the lowest-crime areas in the country, according to the new statistics, falling sixth behind of Cumbria, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dyfed-Powys. Taking into account population size, the crime rate for North Yorkshire is the lowest in England and Wales.

The county showed the lowest crime statistics for the whole of Yorkshire in almost every area. However, the number of bicycle thefts was higher than South Yorkshire in the year to September 2020, and the rate of cycle thefts when factoring in population size was higher than both South and West Yorkshire.

The rate of fraud and computer crime offences in the county was also higher than in any other area of Yorkshire when taking into account population size.

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Nationally, the latest statistics show overall crime has fallen in England and Wales compared to the previous year. Helen Ross from the Office for National Statistics Centre for Crime and Justice said:

“The coronavirus pandemic and related lockdown restrictions have resulted in fluctuations in the level of crime experienced in England and Wales. Data from the survey showed decreases in crime at the start of the pandemic, with rises seen over the summer months, specifically in theft, following the easing of lockdown measures, with overall crime now back at pre-lockdown levels of January to March 2020.”

Mr Cain added:

“The landscape of policing will endure change as we respond to the pandemic, however we will continue to place victims at the centre of everything we do.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank our committed workforce who do their very best every day to keep our communities safe. Equally I want to thank the public of North Yorkshire and the City of York for their support during this incredibly challenging time for us all.”

Police launch internal investigation into Harrogate officer

North Yorkshire Police has said it will launch an internal investigation into an officer found guilty today of two counts of dangerous driving in Harrogate.

Detective Constable Quita Passmore, 38, drove through a red light at the junction of Otley Road and Cold Bath Road at 50 miles per hour and crashed into a car carrying two elderly women.

She was given a 10-month jail term, suspended for two years, and disqualified from driving for two years at Bradford Crown Court.

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In a statement, North Yorkshire’s deputy chief constable Phil Cain said:

“This was a very sad incident and our thoughts are with the two women and their families who are still recovering from the events of that day.

“This is an incident that police officers hope to never occur and thankfully is rare.

“We acknowledge the decision of the court. The verdict has now been referred to our professional standards department to form part of our internal investigation.

“Therefore, it would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this time.”

DC Passmore was responding to reports of an officer in distress at 10pm on May 5 in 2018 when she drove an undercover police vehicle through red lights.

The jury found Passmore guilty of two counts of dangerous driving.

Judge Burn told her it was “not in the public interest for the courts to be sending emergency responders to jail”.

Patricia Bulmer and Janet Roberton, who were travelling in the car she hit, sustained severe injuries, including broken bones and a punctured lung.

Ripon residents ‘scared to go out’ as crime fears grow

Ripon residents have said they are too scared to go out at night because of teenage gangs.

Fear of crime and anti-social behaviour in the city has escalated in recent months.

Matters came to a head on Sunday evening when police responded to five incidents in three hours.

They included reports of a man with a machete, a robbery, thefts and gang activity.

It is getting too much for some locals, prompting councillors to call for urgent police action.

North Yorkshire Police has said it will increase patrols following the latest incidents. But some believe there are not enough officers on the streets to cope.

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Pauline McHardy, a councillor on Ripon City Council and Harrogate Borough Council, told the Stray Ferret:

“This has got much worse. I have lived in Ripon all my life and we have never had this level of trouble before. They should be ashamed of themselves.

“Many residents are frightened to leave their homes. These people are terrorising the city, there is no other word for it.”

Stephen Craggs, owner of electrical firm G Craggs, which is based opposite the bus station where some of the young people gather, said:

“This is not like they are just scaring little old ladies. I had just parked at the shops when there was a group of teenagers drinking.

“They just brushed passed me but it was quite intimidating. You don’t know if they have a weapon or what they are going to do.”

Sid Hawke, who also sits on Ripon City Council and Harrogate Borough Council, echoed concerns, and said lockdown had exacerbated the problem:

“Ripon used to be a really quiet and lovely place to live. This is just not on. It is getting really violent now. I think the lockdown has made it worse.

“They are terrorising people. We have a lot of elderly people who live here and they are petrified to leave their homes.”

Ripon City Council is set to have a meeting with North Yorkshire’s police, fire and crime commissioner Julia Mulligan to discuss concerns and respond to pleas for more police.