Police hunt owner of Cockapoodle that bit man in Burn Bridge

Police are appealing for help finding the owner of a Cockapoodle that bit a man near Burn Bridge.

The man was attacked about 50 metres from the path entrance to Crimple Meadows woodland playing fields.

According to North Yorkshire Police, the dog was one of two large brown Cockapoodles with thick brown curly hair. One dog was light brown and the other dark brown.

They were with a white man who is described as stocky, 5ft 9 inches tall and in his late fifties. He was wearing a dark green coat and did not have the dogs on leads. A North Yorkshire Police statement said:

“The darker brown dog started jumping up at a member of the public and bit the male victim on the arm, causing minor injuries.

“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish who the man with the two dogs was.”

The incident took place at about 10am on October 7.

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police by calling 101 and selecting option 2. Ask for PC Thornborrow. You can also email jackie.thornborrow@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200176089.

Domestic abuse rises in North Yorkshire

Domestic abuse has risen sharply in North Yorkshire — but police say this is mainly due to changes in methods of reporting.

Incidents of domestic abuse increased by 26 per cent in 2018/19 and by three per cent in 2019/20, according to latest crime statistics published by the Office for National Statistics yesterday.

But Detective Superintendent Allan Harder, of North Yorkshire Police, said this was largely down to the requirement to record multiple crimes where stalking and/or harassment has occurred, rather than simply one crime per incident. He said:

“Whilst we were hearing of this increased demand from our partners and in the national media, the number of domestic abuse incidents reported to North Yorkshire Police has remained level.

“Although victims have been seeking additional support, this is not associated with a significant rise in reported incidents.”

Fraud, which is one of North Yorkshire Police’s key priorities, has risen by 700 per cent since January 2019 but the force attributed this to people now reporting incidents directly to it rather than the agency Action Fraud.

A police spokesman said:

“Numbers of fraud incidents we are seeing each month since that time are staying fairly consistent.”

Just six murders occurred in North Yorkshire in the year ending June 2020. Only Bedfordshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and North Wales had fewer.

Burglary, theft, vehicle crime and criminal damage showed marked decreases, mainly due to the impact of the national lockdown on March 23.

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Police drugs bust near Harrogate’s Valley Gardens

Police seized 50 wraps of suspected class A drugs, a knife and some cannabis after swooping on two men near Harrogate’s Valley Gardens yesterday.

The men, aged 23 and 26, were taken into custody where the 23-year-old was charged with possessing a knife and possessing class B drugs. The 26-year-old was charged with driving offences.

Both men remain under investigation on suspicion of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.

The men, who are from Leeds, are believed to be part of county lines drug dealing across county borders.

According to North Yorkshire Police, officers on active patrol spotted the pair in a vehicle near Valley Gardens at about 5pm.

A police statement said:

“After searching the two men from Leeds and their vehicle, officers recovered 50 wraps of suspected class A drugs, a hunting knife and some cannabis.”

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North Yorkshire Police’s Operation Expedite teams focus on county lines drug dealers who travel from outside North Yorkshire to sell drugs.

The force appealed to anyone with information about drug dealing in their area to contact it on 101.

If you prefer not to speak to the police and remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Hydraulic loader stolen from sewage works near Spofforth

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses after a hydraulic loader was stolen from a sewage works between Spofforth and Little Ribston.

The burglary happened between Friday and Monday at the Yorkshire Water sewage site.

The suspect or suspects cut a fence to get on to the site, having travelled through fields from the Plompton direction.

They then stole the loader and escaped in a vehicle in an unknown direction.

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A police spokesperson said:

“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and if they have witnessed anything or anyone acting suspiciously in that area.”

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC Thornborrow. Alternatively, email jackie.thornborrow@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200188204.

Police: Stay away from North Yorkshire during half term

North Yorkshire Police has urged people in tier three areas not to travel to the county during this October half term.

Amid concerns that people from the “very high” tier will venture into the county, police have asked people not to travel unless it is for work, education or caring responsibilities.

It comes as the county currently sits in the lowest tier, meaning it follows the national guidance with no additional restrictions.

Those areas in tier three, such as Lancashire and Greater Manchester, cannot socialise indoors with other households and have seen pubs closed.

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People under “very high” restrictions are advised not to travel outside of the area.

Superintendent Mike Walker, gold commander for the force’s response to coronavirus, urged people from those areas to stay away this half term.

He said:

“North Yorkshire is notorious for providing a warm welcome to visitors. But at the moment, we would ask residents from tier three locations to please stay in their own area and help us with the containment of this virus.

“If we can maintain a united approach and stop the spread, I can assure you that when it’s safe to do so – North Yorkshire will welcome you with open arms.”

He also urged young people in the county to follow social distancing guidance and to stick to the rule of six during the break.

“I would appeal to parents and carers to have those conversations with their children, to ensure they are aware of the possible consequences of their actions and encourage them to adhere to the regulations.”

Earlier this week, Superintendent Walker added that there would be a visible presence across the county amid concern that people would also travel from tier two areas, such as York and West Yorkshire.

He said, while the force could not enforce travel restrictions, there would be officers out enforcing the national rules.

“For the public of North Yorkshire and the City of York who are worried what I can say is that officers will be patrolling, they will be visible and they will absolutely be enforcing face coverings and the rule of six as they have been doing throughout the pandemic.”

It comes as the force has handed out 1,151 coronavirus penalties, the most of any police force in the country.

The vast majority were issued for non-essential journeys at the start of lockdown.

The force is also considering introducing “covid cars” as part of £291,897 worth of funding from government to help with enforcement of covid restrictions.

Police appeal for information about dead Knaresborough man

The coroner’s office is appealing for information to find the family of a Knaresborough man who died at home this month.

Police officers have been unable to trace the family or next of kin of Brian George Abbott, 73, who died on October 15.

Mr Abbott, who lived in Finkle Street, was discovered after a concerned neighbour raised the alarm when post began to build up at his home.

His death is not believed to be suspicious.

North Yorkshire Police has appealed to anyone who knew Mr Abbott or has any information that could help find his family to contact the coroner’s office.

You can do so by calling 01609 643614 or emailing coroner@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

 

Police appeal after four caravans stolen in Coneythorpe

Police have launched an appeal after four caravans were stolen in Coneythorpe overnight.

The four Swift caravans were taken from a premises in the area between 6.30pm on October 7 and 6.30am the following day.

Officers are now appealing for witnesses to come forward with any information that may assist with the investigation.

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Describing the thieves’ actions after breaking in, a North Yorkshire Police statement said:

“Once there, they have removed locks, alarms and trackers from four Swift caravans and caused extensive damage to a fifth, before driving off over a field back onto the road.

“Police are appealing for any information that could assist in this investigation – for example, if any vehicles were seen in the area, and any footage from CCTV in nearby villages.

Anyone with information should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two, and ask for PC528 Pierre Olesqui. You can also email pierre.olesqui@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200176598.

Police consider ‘covid cars’ as part of enforcement

North Yorkshire Police may introduce “covid cars” to respond to complaints about breaches of coronavirus rules.

Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire police, fire and crime commissioner, said today the move was being considered after her office received £291,897 from the government last week for covid enforcement.

The proposal would see police officers assigned specifically to respond to complaints from the public, such as licenced premises breaking coronavirus restrictions.

Ms Mulligan told a meeting of the police, fire and crime panel that other plans being considered included greater use of overtime and additional patrols in covid hot spots.

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The force will submit final proposals to the Home Office as part of the funding allocation.

Mrs Mulligan said covid cars would respond to calls from members of the public around covid concerns, particularly about licensing regime and problem premises.

Julia Mulligan, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire

She said:

“For example, where residents have concerns about the way that they are behaving. Cars can be deployed to those sorts of things.

“It is a discreet amount of funding for a specific purposes. It isn’t additional funding for the force to cope with the whole of covid.”

It comes as Superintendent Mike Walker, gold commander for police response to covid, said the force had seen demand return to pre-covid levels.

North Yorkshire Police has issued the highest amount of fines for breaches of coronavirus rules. But the force has not handed out any fines for face masks or breaches of the rule of six,

Under coronavirus legislation, police have the power to issue £60 fixed penalty notices to anyone breaching restrictions. The sum is reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.

Superintendent Walker told North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum yesterday:

“What is important to remember is, as I have said before, the demand for normal police services has returned to pre-lockdown levels.

“Previously when we were in full lockdown, we had much more resources to be out and reassuring the public and enforcing the health protection regulations.

“With demand going back to what it is now, clearly we have to risk assess every report that comes in whether it is normal police demand or if it is covid related demand.”

Police officer: ‘No knife crime problem in Ripon’

A senior officer, with responsibility for policing in Ripon, has reassured people the city does not have a major problem with gangs after a mother expressed concerns.

The mother, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Stray Ferret she and other parents feared Ripon was witnessing an increase in gangs, violence and intimidation.

There have also been recent incidents of vandalism, including the breaking of windows in the city centre and damage caused to the surface of a children’s playground in Grove Lane.

The mother said:

“The impression that I and other mothers I meet have is that there is a growing gang culture, which links into drug taking and dealing.

“It can be intimidating seeing groups of youths, some on bikes, congregating in parts of the city late at night and we are concerned that some might be carrying knives. We fear that somebody is going to be hurt and believe that something needs to be done.”

Inspector Steve Breen, (pictured above) who presented a report to Harrogate Borough Council in March on actions taken by North Yorkshire Police to tackle knife crime, said he wanted to assuage concerns and introduce a sense of proportion.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“We have essentially eradicated knife crime in Ripon through proactive use of stop and search tactics and intelligence-led disruption activity, leading to the imprisonment of some key individuals.”

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He added

“This problem existed within a small group of drug users and dealers across the district and did not impinge on innocent members of the public. There is no problem with knife crime in Ripon.”

Regarding the vandalism that temporarily closed the children’s playground, Insp Breen said:

“I reinforce the message that parents need to know where their children are, who they are with, and what they are up to.

“I urge the public to report issues they are concerned about via 101 or 999 in an emergency.”

“We are active in suppressing antisocial behaviour through home visits to problem individuals, the issuing of cease and desist letters, and working with schools, social workers, youth charities and other partners to engage and divert young people from nuisance activity.”

 

Warning to parents after police seize ‘drug-laced sweets’ in Ripon

Four teenagers have been arrested after “drugs disguised as sweets” were seized in Ripon yesterday afternoon.

Police stopped a vehicle in the city around 4pm and arrested the four on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs, money laundering and weapons offences.

Among the items seized during the arrests were what appeared to be sweets – but officers strongly believe they are laced with controlled drugs.

Suspected drug-laced sweets Suspected drug-laced sweets

Three of the arrested teenagers have been released under investigation and the fourth has been bailed while enquiries continue.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said:

“Police are extremely concerned that anyone consuming these items could be at risk of serious harm, and are asking parents to be particularly vigilant, and ensure their children understand the risks.

“These so-called ‘edibles’ pose a risk to young people across York and North Yorkshire. Anyone who has any information about the supply of illegal drugs in any form is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Your call could literally save someone’s life.”