Four arrested after gang robs teenager at knifepoint in Ripon

Police have arrested four men after a teenager was robbed outside a pub in Ripon.

North Yorkshire Police said the incident happened outside the Ship Inn, Bondgate, at 6.45pm on Friday.

A teenage boy had personal possessions stolen, including a watch and an item of jewellery, after he was threatened at knifepoint. No injuries were reported.

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A police statement said:

“Police responded and launched an immediate investigation, which resulted in four males, aged 14 to 20, being arrested in connection with the incident.

“They have been released on bail pending further investigation.

“Officers made enquiries in the surrounding area but are urging people to come forward if they have information which they have not yet shared.

“Please call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1 and quote reference 12210180615.”

Man arrested after Saturday night street brawl in Pateley Bridge

A man was arrested after a group of men started brawling on Pateley Bridge High Street on Saturday night.

Fighting broke out between the unknown number of men at about 7.30pm.

One person suffered head injuries that required treatment but his injuries are not believed to be serious.

A 22-year-old man was arrested but later released under investigation while enquiries continue.

North Yorkshire Police, which is appealing for information, said in a statement this afternoon:

“Several members of the public used smart phones to take images of what happened.

“We are keen to see images of the incident and are particularly interested in finding out how the incident started and what happened initially.”

If you have any information or images you can call the police on 101. Choose option 2 and dial 30820. Or you can email bill.hickson@northyorkshire.police.uk.

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Have your say on police priorities for Harrogate district

North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Philip Allott has today opened a three-month consultation seeking views on what the priorities should be for the police and fire services.

Mr Allott, who was elected commissioner in May, said the responses would inform his Police and Crime Plan, and Fire and Rescue Plan for 2021-2024.

Mr Allott, who lives in Knaresborough, will go on a 16-stop tour of North Yorkshire and York to canvas views. Online surveys and focus groups will also feed into the survey.

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He said:

“These documents which we need to produce by law have long titles and complex requirements, but they are all about one thing – your safety, which is why I want to know your priorities to ensure they are your plans.

“Please get involved in this consultation and have your say. I promise it will be listened to.”

The Police and Crime Plan sets out the vision and priorities for North Yorkshire Police, community safety and victims’ rights, as well as the objectives and ambitions that the Chief Constable will be held to account against.

The Fire and Rescue Plan sets out the strategic vision, priorities and objectives for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for how it will better respond to the need of our communities.

Further details of the consultation and the draft plans are available at www.tellphilip.co.uk.

Swift action led to Harrogate shop thieves being caught this afternoon

Harrogate police were able to respond swiftly to a shop theft this afternoon after an officer walked into the shop soon after it happened.

The Harrogate police officer happened to be heading into the M&S BP garage in Pannal this afternoon for a coffee when the shop worker told him three men had just driven away with stolen food and drink.

Officers were able to quickly apprehend the three men in a van on Park House Green.

The three men were dealt with using the community resolution disposal procedure which is used for low-level crime such as minor theft and criminal damage.

A release by North Yorkshire Police explained the method:

“By encouraging suspects to face up to the impact of their behaviour and to take responsibility for making good any harm caused, a Community Resolution can reduce the likelihood of their reoffending. There must be an acceptance of responsibility on behalf of the suspect to undertake a Community Resolution response.”

The suspect’s van was also seized for being un-taxed.

The three men will now have to pay for the items stolen, which added up to around £30.

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Ferrari towed away in Harrogate in police supercar clampdown

Police ordered a Ferrari sports car to be towed away outside Harrogate Convention Centre over the weekend as part of a supercar crackdown.

Operation Chrome, which North Yorkshire Police launched this summer, targets speeding, illegally modified vehicles and vehicles that shouldn’t be on the road.

The Ferrari driver was reported on suspicion of driving without insurance and failing to display a front number plate.

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Operation Chrome launched this summer with a police pledge to keep up on “the irresponsible behaviour of some drivers which is not only unsafe but also highly disruptive”.

Harrogate often attracts drivers, sometimes in modified vehicles, racing around the main roads, particularly during summer.

Superintendent Steve Thomas said:

“Residents and visitors should not have to fear for their safety or have their days blighted by this excessive noise.

“We are taking a zero tolerance approach to this dangerous behaviour.”

 

Harrogate man pleads not guilty to Mayfield Grove alleged murder

A Harrogate man has denied murder following the discovery of a man’s body at a flat near the town centre.

Daniel Ainsley, 24, was arrested in the street on the same evening that police found 48-year-old Mark Wolsey with fatal injuries at the flat in Mayfield Grove. 

Mr Wolsey was pronounced dead at the scene after police arrived at the property at about 10pm on March 5.

Ainsley, of no fixed address, was arrested on suspicion of murder and today (Thursday, August 5) he appeared at Leeds Crown Court when he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC remanded Ainsley in custody until the trial on October 18. 

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A decade worth of monthly police visits to Mayfield Grove house

Police received on average one report per month over suspected crime and anti-social behaviour at a house on Harrogate’s Mayfield Grove for the past decade, the Stray Ferret can reveal.

Figures obtained by a Freedom of Information request show 255 reports were made to North Yorkshire Police from the public about 38 Mayfield Grove since April 2008.

It amounts to at least one police visit a month on average for the last 13 years.

The house has been at the centre of crime concerns recently after North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council ordered the property to be closed back in March.

The figures revealed today suggest a persistent problem at the property over anti-social behaviour. Since the closure, residents have called for more to be done about crime in the area and have met with officers, council officials and North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Philip Allott.

The Stray Ferret asked police for the most common reports made about the address and how many times police were called about each reason.

Of the most frequent reports, a total of 64 were related to public safety and included suspicious circumstances, insecure premises and concerns for safety.

Meanwhile, 27 were about anti-social behaviour.

Closure orders and crime concerns

The house has been ordered to close twice since 2005.

The latest order to shut the property down was made back in March by North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council.

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The two organisations can apply to a court for a closure order if they have concerns about antisocial behaviour and criminal behaviour on premise.

Since then, the property has been allowed to reopen and officers have held community engagement events with concerned residents.

At an event held in June, many residents said they were worried about crime in in general in the area – not just individual properties.

Meanwhile, Philip Allott, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, pledged to push for more police officers on Mayfield Grove.

He visited the street last week to hear concerns over anti-social behaviour and crime on Mayfield Grove and nearby Nydd Vale Terrace and Mayfield Terrace.

Mr Allott told the Stray Ferret:

“I will ask the police to step up neighbourhood policing in this area. I will ask them to target the drug dealers and make it hard for the supply chain to operate.”

Local motorcyclist killed in Nidd crash

A motorcyclist has died following a collision in Nidd on Saturday afternoon.

The man, aged in his 30s, was travelling from Ripley on the B6165 Ripley Road when his blue motorcycle collided with a silver Toyota Hilux driving in the opposite direction at about 3.25pm.

He died at the scene.

North Yorkshire Police has not revealed the man’s name but said in a statement he was local.

It are appealing for anyone who saw what happened, or saw either vehicle in the moments leading up to the crash, to get in touch.

You can call 101, select option 1 and quote reference 12210171943 or email PC Nicola Gill at Nicola.gill@northyorkshire.pnn.police.ukMotorcyclist.

It was one of two fatal crashes in North Yorkshire over the weekend.

A woman in her 60s died following a two-car collision on the A6055 between Catterick and Leeming Bar at about 2.20am this morning.

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Police say be vigilant as scammers flag down motorists on A59 for money

North Yorkshire Police has issued a warning after receiving a rising number of reports of scammers attempting to flag down motorists asking for money to fix their car.

The police said it received at least seven reports in the past two days in the Harrogate, Scarborough and Ryedale areas.

The force said suspect’s descriptions range from Asian, Portuguese and Eastern European men driving a silver Volkswagen or a dark-coloured Fiat.

In one incident on the A59 near Harrogate yesterday two men in separate lay-bys were seen trying to flag down motorists. One was described as a smartly dressed Asian man with a silver Passat and the other as European with a dark-coloured Fiat.

Soon after, another man managed to flag down a car on the A61 near Ripley. He was descried as Romanian and was then joined by two other men asking for money after breaking down.

Throughout the evening and into this morning similar reports were received in the Scarborough and Kirbymoorside area.

In one of those incidents the suspect wanted to take motorists to a cash machine to withdraw money and in others children were in the suspect vehicles.

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The police said most motorists realised it was a scam and drove away without giving any money.

The police has urged the public not to give money to anyone on the side of the road and be vigilant against anyone trying to flag down cars.

To report any information, call 101.

Crime commissioner pledges extra police for Harrogate’s Mayfield Grove

The North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has pledged to push for increased policing in the Mayfield Grove area of Harrogate.

Philip Allott visited the area yesterday to hear concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour on Mayfield Grove and nearby streets, such as Mayfield Terrace and Nydd Vale Terrace.

He was invited by Paul Ivison, who has set up a residents group for people worried about drug dealing, car crime, speeding and anti-social behaviour, particularly in some houses in multiple occupation let by landlords, .

Mr Allott said:

“I will ask the police to step up neighbourhood policing in this area. I will ask them to target the drug dealers and make it hard for the supply chain to operate.”

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He also urged Harrogate Borough Council to take a tougher line against landlords that didn’t do enough to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour on their premises.

“The council possibly needs to be a little more active and realise this is a serious issue. I don’t think the district council has quite latched on to that.

“I will be asking Harrogate Borough Council to be more proactive and serve further closure notices against landlords where relevant.”

North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council issued a three-month closure order on 38 Mayfield Grove in March. The two organisations can apply to a court for a closure order if they have concerns about antisocial behaviour and criminal behaviour on premises.

‘Abused by beggars’

Mr Ivison told the commissioner many town centre street beggars stayed in bedsits in the area and said the police should issue more Public Spaces Protection Orders to prevent begging in town, as many of those doing it weren’t genuine rough sleepers, were taking advantage of people and making a mess.

Mr Allott agreed the “town centre was being abused by beggars” who took advantage of “kindly, well disposed people who think they are helping”, adding:

“It’s patently clear a lot of these characters in the town centre are not what they present themselves to be.

“But I do recognise that there are a minority of people who through no fault of their own find themselves in a destitute position.”

Mr Allott said he supported the use of Public Spaces Protection Orders “where it is proportionate and necessary but not as a blanket measure”.