Police are investigating after an individual who claimed to be a police officer approached motorists in Boroughbridge, instructing them to pay thousands of pounds in overdue vehicle tax.

The incident took place in the Morrisons car park in Boroughbridge, when the individual is reported to have taken personal contact details from motorists and repeatedly called them the following day. They were told they owed thousands of pounds in unpaid fines and would be arrested if the amount wasn’t paid immediately.

North Yorkshire Police has warned residents to be vigilant in case they’re approached by the same individual. A police spokesperson said:

“If you are approached by someone claiming to be a police officer, they should be happy to show you their identification if asked and you can also confirm their identity by asking their name and ‘collar number’ and calling 101 to verify these details.

“The police will never contact you over the phone, text or email to request payment or to ask you to transfer money to them so if anyone claiming to be the police does so, hang up immediately.”

The police are asking people to call 101 if they believe they have experienced a similar scam.

https://twitter.com/KnaresPolice/status/1277206489971728389

North Yorkshire Police has issued a drugs warning after an officer found “an awful lot of” laughing gas canisters on the Stray.

It comes after hundreds gathered on the Stray yesterday in what some described as a festival atmosphere.

Inspector Paul Cording was out on the Stray at 4.30am when he found, among the beer bottles and takeaway boxes, gas canisters.

That discovery has led to a warning from the police directly to young people and their parents.

Read more:

• What happened on the Stray last night?
• When a group of young men won praise for cleaning up rubbish on the Stray
• A police appeal for information after a man exposed himself on the Stray

Speaking about the dangers of inhaling the gas, Sergeant Heidi Lewis, children & young people engagement officer, said:

“People may believe that because this gas is widely available and easily purchased, that it is harmless. However, inhaling this gas can lead to unconsciousness and ultimately suffocation, as the body is essentially starved of oxygen. So when you know the risks irresponsible use of this gas poses, it’s not so much of a laugh is it?”

The ‘Talk to Frank’ website has more information about the risks of inhaling gas canisters. Find it by clicking or tapping here.

North Yorkshire Police is investigating reports of an older couple in Knaresborough making racist comments towards a Polish family.

The incident reportedly happened in Conyngham Hall car park at around midday on Sunday, June 21.

It came after a dispute in the car park over a parking space. Later that day the Polish family found their car damaged.

Police say the Polish family was in a black BMW 5 series estate and the older couple was in a silver BMW 3 series.

Read more:

• ‘Outrageous’ series of bike thefts investigated at Harrogate Hospital
• Three arrested after cars stolen in Harrogate
• BMW and handmade scrubs stolen in Harrogate burglary

They have described the male suspect as a white man, 177cm tall, of thin build and grey hair. He was wearing a blue polo shirt and grey shorts.

While the female suspect is a white woman, shorter and stocky, wearing a pink, blue and white vest top with a large flower motif on the front.

Anyone with information on the incident should call 101 or pass on information anonymously through Crimestoppers.

North Yorkshire Police has reported it stopped two suspicious cars near Boroughbridge, one carried £10,000 in cash.

The first car was found on the A1(M) southbound at junction 48, near Boroughbridge, on Saturday evening. The officers found the cash inside the Mercedes C200 and chose to carry out a roadside drug test on the driver.

The officers arrested the 60 year old driver on suspicion of drug driving and money laundering.

A further car, seen near the Mercedes, was stopped by the police at junction 46. The 26 year old driver was also arrested on suspicion of drug driving and money laundering as well as possession of cannabis.

Both men were charged with failing to produce a specimen of blood for analysis and were released as investigations continue. The second driver also received a warning for possessing cannabis.

The cars were seized for further examination.

A total of seven bicycle thefts from Harrogate District Hospital have been reported to North Yorkshire Police since the beginning of April.

The thefts – including from key workers on long shifts – are being investigated by the Harrogate neighbourhood policing team, which says it is committed to finding the people responsible.

The force is also offering hospital staff and local residents the option to have their bikes security marked, by appointment only, in an effort to discourage the crime.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said:

“Since the beginning of April this year, there have been seven bicycles stolen from the Harrogate District Hospital site. Members of staff who have been dealing with the coronavirus crisis are among those who have been affected by these incidents.

“This is clearly outrageous and the Harrogate Neighbourhood Policing Team are working hard to identify those responsible and are helping staff to increase cycle security.”

The thefts are being investigated by police, who have reassured staff that those responsible will be found.

Read more:

• More fines for coronavirus breaches were issued by North Yorkshire Police than any other force in England. 
• Harrogate Hospital Trust projects an £11 million gap in its funding for this year.

Harrogate District Hospital is looking into further security measures following the incident. A trust spokesperson said:

“We know it is frustrating and upsetting to have a bike stolen. We’re currently looking at what we can do to improve bike storage facilities on the Harrogate District Hospital site.”

More fines were issued for breaching coronavirus regulations by North Yorkshire Police than by any other force in England.

With 1,082 fines issued from the start of lockdown until Monday, June 8, the force handed out 19 more fines than the Metropolitan Police.

West Yorkshire Police issued 826 fines in the same period, South Yorkshire gave 377, and Lincolnshire 231.

The North Yorkshire force said more than half of its fines were issued to visitors to the county. Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker said:

“The police’s overarching aim in the response to Covid-19 has been to keep people safe, to protect the NHS and save lives. We took that responsibility seriously.

“Although we planned for the worst case scenario, we have seen a much lower than expected absence rate among our officers and staff, enabling us to provide increased patrols in our communities.

“We are thankful that out of thousands of interactions with the public, we rarely had to enforce the regulations. The vast majority of people understood and supported the role of the police in this public health emergency and we are grateful for all of the support and positive engagement we have had from members of the public.

“There was a minority who didn’t understand or believed the rules did not apply to them. And where people have not responded to our engagement approach, when we have explained the regulations and encouraged them to follow them, but they have still refused, we have resorted to enforcement – as the public would expect us to.”

Read more:

• Police commissioner urges caution after weekend of breaches in Harrogate and Knaresborough
• Appeal after boys assaulted on Bilton viaduct

Mr Walker said the attractions of North Yorkshire had drawn people to the county even when regulations told them not to travel, resulting in the large number of fines and the high percentage issued to people from outside the area.

He said the fines issued have been scrutinised by the criminal records office and by a panel led by North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC), Julia Mulligan. She said:

“I want to place on record my thanks to the officers and staff who have worked so hard to protect us, and thank the majority across North Yorkshire who have followed the law and stayed at home as much as possible.

“We may be over the peak, but this crisis is not over and as we move towards having to take more personal responsibility as we stay alert to the threat of the virus, I encourage everyone to continue to follow the restrictions and guidelines.”

Two boys have been assaulted on the Bilton to Ripley cycle path after a confrontation with a group of teenagers.

The victims and a friend were chased onto the Bilton viaduct on Tuesday, between 6.15pm and 6.30pm, by a group of between five and seven people.

One of the group approached the first victim and punched him in the face a number of times. The boy suffered facial injuries which required hospital treatment.

The second victim tried to help his friend and was punched in the back of the head by another member of the group.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said:

“This incident took place on a busy public footpath, in broad daylight, where members of the public are exercising. We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.”

Police are trying to trace two suspects. Both are described as white teenage boys, aged between 16 and 18. One was between 5ft 9ins and 6ft tall and well-built, with medium length brown hair. He was wearing a blue t-shirt and grey shorts and was on a bicycle, carrying a dark blue backpack.

The second suspect had a thin build and was more than 6ft 2ins tall. He is also believed to have been on a bike and was wearing a black t-shirt with grey jogging bottoms. Both of the suspects were part of a group of up to seven people.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Ryan Rudd. Alternatively, email ryan.rudd@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk. Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200093071.

To report information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A Harrogate pub that came under fire for breaching coronavirus lockdown rules could be closed down permanently.

The council has told the landlord of the Coach and Horses that a formal review of its licence is underway after it found 75 customers in the area drinking on Sunday.

Harrogate Borough Council sent its enforcement team to two pubs on Saturday and reported that people were breaking the rules. It gave advice to the licensees of both pubs and reminded them of the law.

The next day, the Coach and Horses opened again and followed the initial advice before, the council says it committed a further breach of regulations.

Police at the Coach and Horses on Tuesday.

Council officers issued a prohibition notice to the pub the same day and in doing so officers were subjected to verbal abuse from customers. One even followed the officers along Tower Street and back to their cars.

Despite the prohibition notice, the council said the pub continued to trade in the same way. In his report, council officer Gareth Bentley said officers returned to the pub on Monday, after the notice was issued:

“On arrival they noticed two ladies drinking in open plastic cups at the front of The Coach and Horses. Additionally people were sitting outside, on the opposite side of the road to the pubs’ side door on Tower Street drinking from open plastic pint cups.”

Council officers and police officers returned to the premises yesterday to serve notice of the licence review, which could mean a permanent closure.

Read more on this story:

• What happened on Saturday afternoon?
• Harrogate pub owners said they followed government guidelines
• Why did the council serve The Coach and Horses with a prohibition notice?

The council, accompanied by North Yorkshire Police, said it will continue to monitor the situation over the weekend.

Councillor Mike Chambers, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing and safer communities, said:

“Even after officers visited the Coach and Horses pub, and advised the landlord of their responsibilities, they still felt the need to continue breaching coronavirus regulations. Sadly, this has now resulted in the review of the pub’s licence. These regulation are there to protect our communities. “

North Yorkshire Police have issued a warning to residents and businesses after a high volume of bank fraud cases in the county, including £55,000 stolen from victims in Harrogate.

“Courier fraud” is when a victim receives a phone call from someone claiming to be from the police or their bank’s fraud team and who asks for money to be handed over to be used in an investigation.

They usually tell the victim they are investigating the bank due to allegations of theft from customers.

Police have issued the warning after three incidents were reported in Harrogate. One case saw a 65-year-old woman lose £50,000 to fraudsters after she was persuaded to withdraw money from her bank and to buy gold as a safer investment before it was placed into safe storage.

A further case saw a 60-year-old man conned out of £5,000. He refused to travel to London to hand the money over in person, but he agreed to pass it to a courier.

Meanwhile, an 80-year-old woman almost lost £6,500 back in March until she contacted her bank’s for fraud advice. The suspect did not contact her again.

Police continue to investigate these incidents.

Detective Detective Constable Neil Brodhurst, a fraud investigator, urged anyone who has been a victim of a courier fraud to come forward.

He said: “Courier fraud is clearly a despicable and malicious crime which preys upon vulnerable people who are genuinely frightened that their life savings are at risk.

“It is vitally important for residents to know that the police or a bank would never contact people in this way. They would also never ask for highly personal information such as PINs and bank account numbers over the phone.

“If you or someone you know receives such a call out of the blue, the best advice is to end the call straight away and report it to the police and the bank for investigation..

“Please do not feel foolish in any way. We are here to help and support victims and we will do everything in our power to bring suspects to justice.”

A woman is in the hospital with serious injuries after she fell from a cliff in Knaresborough.

The woman, who is in her 30s, fell around 30 metres from a cliff near Abbey Road.

North Yorkshire Police attended at about 9.40am yesterday before an ambulance took the woman for treatment.

We will report more details when they become available.