More than seven out of 10 fines for breaches of lockdown restrictions in North Yorkshire have been handed to men, according to police figures.

North Yorkshire Police revealed yesterday it has issued 328 fixed penalty notices since the third lockdown started.

Of that number, 235 have been to men — 72 per cent of all fines issued so far. Ninety-three have been to women.

Nearly half of the fines have been to people aged 18 to 25.

A total of 160 have been issued for indoor gatherings, some of which have been for house parties.

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Superintendent Mike Walker said officers have to deal with reports of house parties “every night of the week”, mainly in the Scarborough district and York.

Total number of lockdown fines issued by North Yorkshire Police since January 6. Data: North Yorkshire Police.

In Harrogate, 22 of the 34 fixed penalty notices since the third lockdown began on January 6 have been issued for being outside without good reason. 

Police have handed 27 of the fines to men. However, most of the breaches have been committed by people from outside the area with just 11 notices given to local residents.

It comes as police pledged to get tougher on those who breach lockdown restrictions and said they would no longer “waste time” with rule breakers.

Superintendent Mike Walker, North Yorkshire Police.

Yesterday Superintendent Walker told a meeting of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, the partnership organisation that leads the county’s response to covid, that officers continued to issue fines but had seen an improvement in the last week.

A total of 87 fines were handed out across the county in week three of lockdown compared with 134 in week two. He said:

“We are starting to see slightly better compliance. 

“But we are still having to issue fixed penalty notices to people who do not believe that the regulations are there to follow.”

He added he felt the message to stay at home was getting through to most people, but a minority do not feel it applies to them.

“People know what they should be doing and they know why they should be doing it, but they choose to ignore the warnings and the risks and choose to ignore the fact that over 100,000 people have died from the virus.

“They think that what they want to is more important or they think they won’t catch it.

“In my opinion, this is incredibly short-sighted, naive and plain wrong. This is a highly contagious and deadly virus. We’ve all seen the damage it can do and it does not discriminate.

“It only takes one contact with one contagious person who may be asymptomatic to contract the virus and potentially pass it on, an action which may end up with someone losing their life.”

Nazi swastikas have been spray painted on two homes in Harrogate.

Police say the incidents caused “considerable distress” and are appealing for anyone with CCTV footage to come forward.

The damage occurred on Bilton Lane in Bilton and Trefoil Drive in Jennyfields between 8pm on Sunday and 11am on Monday.

Nazi Germany adopted the swastika flag in the 1930s.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement this morning a front door and a garage door were sprayed painted. It added:

“The victims cars were also damaged, one with a swastika, the other with a red line.

“This is an abhorrent image and one that has caused the victims considerable distress.

“Officers are requesting your help and are appealing to anyone who has any information, in particular anyone on the two roads that might have doorbell or household CCTV cameras, to contact the police.”

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Jonathan Cleary. You can also email Jonathan.cleary@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 12210038263 or 12210039205.

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Two elderly Harrogate women thought they were going to die when an undercover police officer crashed into their car on the Otley Road.

Detective Constable Quita Passmore was responding to reports of officers in distress at 10pm on May 5, 2018.

The officer was driving an undercover car with blue lights and sirens on. She had been travelling at around 50 miles per hour before she collided with the elderly women.

She had gone through the red lights at the junction with Cold Bath Road, a jury at Bradford Crown Court heard today.

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The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) carried out an investigation into the crash and passed its findings onto the Crown Prosecution Service ahead of the case.

Mr Dunn, the prosecuting barrister, told the court:

“The officer was going too fast at 50 miles per hour in the circumstances. The red light was showing for nine seconds to safely negotiate that junction at that speed.

“It was too fast in all the circumstances, say the prosecution. She was going too fast to stop on her side of the road and failed to yield for a red traffic light.

“Officers are entitled to disregard those traffic signals when responding to an emergency. There is no issue with the exemptions but it must be done safely.

“This was dangerous, say the prosecution.”

Victim statements

Both of the victims were retired elderly women. They suffered serious injuries, with the court hearing a list of broken bones and a punctured lung.

Patricia Bulmer, who was driving a red Vauxhall Corsa, told police in hospital after the crash:

“We had spent the day at a friend’s house and left around 10pm. I had driven up Cold Bath Road and turned onto the junction with Otley Road.

“Then there was an almighty smash and bang. The airbag flew into me. My friend was then making moaning noises at the side of me.

“After that, two ladies poked their heads through and said they would get us out of the car.”

Janet Roberton, who was the passenger in the car, also told police:

“I heard a loud siren type noise and saw lights to the right of the car. I just remember one of us shouting ‘oh my God, oh my God.’

“Then there was a loud bang, it was the most awful noise I have ever heard. My first thought was the we were going to die, it felt terrible.”

Detective Constable Quita Passmore has pleaded not guilt to two counts of dangerous driving.

The case continues.

A Harrogate police officer has described how he lay in “overwhelming pain” after being assaulted so badly he couldn’t work for six months.

Traffic Constable David Minto suffered fractures and extensive ligament damage to his lower leg when he was attacked by Harrogate man Shane Povey.

“As soon as I went down I knew straight away that my ankle was done in.

“The initial pain was overwhelming. The first 10 or 15 seconds, everything went dark. After a while, I managed to crawl from the road to the path.”

As he crawled to safety, other officers arrested Povey.

David Minto recovering in hospital.

TC Minto, who works in the roads policing group, was taken to hospital where he was treated for a complicated ankle fracture with extensive ligament damage, which had to be pinned.

‘You feel cheated’

He spent one-and-a-half months on crutches with his leg in plaster, then the same time again in a supportive leg brace. He said:

“It was frustrating to not being able to contribute at home, or even move around the house properly.

“I missed out on things I should have been doing with my son and with my family. It’s time that I can never get back. You feel a bit cheated.”

Povey, 38, of Dene Park, Harrogate, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison.

He was convicted of grievous bodily harm against TC Minto, and also the harassment of a woman and possessing a weapon, which accounted for a longer sentence. He received a 10-year restraining order for the harassment.

Shane Povey

The attack took place on 31 July 2019. TC Minto returned to work in January last year on restricted duties until April.

Assaults on police up 45 per cent

Official figures show that in the six months to the end of January 2020, North Yorkshire Police made 104 arrests following assaults against emergency services workers.

But in the same period to late January 2021, 150 arrests were made – an increase of 45%.

TC Minto said:

“It has a psychological impact on you as well as a physical one.

“But you’ve got to get back to work and get on with it. The support returning to work has been great.

“Ultimately, my passion is road safety. I come into work to keep people safe. You’re aware that you can go home having potentially saved someone’s life. Most people you deal with are decent people.

“But I think there is a mindset among some of the public that police officers have to take the risks, and that’s just part of the job.”

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North Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Lisa Winward said:

“The attack against TC Minto was deplorable, and although he has now returned to the frontline after a long period of recovery, the impact on him and his family as a result of this assault was immeasurable.

“I have been saddened to see such a shocking rise in assaults over the last year. TC Minto, along with all the officers and staff across North Yorkshire Police go to work each day to protect the public and to serve the communities of North Yorkshire, and any assault against them is unacceptable.”

North Yorkshire Police figures show that in the last month, 36 arrests have been made following assaults on emergency service personnel – an average of more than one a day.

 

North Yorkshire Police has urged motorists to ensure their cars are secure after a spate of thefts in Harrogate during the last week.

Five cars in the Rossett area were broken into over two nights.

According to police, the cars were broken into despite being locked and no damage occurred to them.

Cash, sunglasses, a handbag and jewellery were amongst the stolen items.

Police said high-value vehicles such as BMWs and Audis have been particularly targeted. Enquiries into the thefts are ongoing.

Three cars were entered on Thursday night last week in Rossett.

A handbag containing numerous items, including bank cards was stolen from inside one. Jewellery and coins were taken from another. Nothing was stolen and no damage was caused to a third, but items had been moved around.

Two more cars in the area were targeted on Friday night. An iPod was stolen from one and cash was taken from the other.

Kent Road thefts

Earlier last week, sunglasses and cash were stolen from cars parked at houses in the Kent Road area between Sunday and Wednesday.

The Woodlands area of Harrogate was also affected when a car was broken into on Wednesday or Thursday last week. Items were moved about but nothing is believed to have been stolen.

A similar report was received from a car parked in The Oval. Sunglasses and a few other items were reported stolen on Wednesday or Thursday.

Anyone with information can phone North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference number 12210034761. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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The police have issued the following advice:

• Make sure the vehicle is locked and windows are closed, even for short stops.
• Use your garage or park in well-lit, well-populated and overlooked areas.
• Remove all valuables, even bags, jackets, cases and toys have a value to thief.
• Remove loose change from view. Its presence may tip the scales in any decision on whether to attempt to break in.
• Remove electronics such as sat-navs as well as any holders or chargers. If they have left suction cup marks wipe these clear, any evidence could encourage a thief to look further.
• Keep your vehicle tidy. Clutter in the foot wells or envelopes left on seats could make a thief feel it’s worth a look.
• Keep ID badges on your person. Criminals know that they may be with electronic passes to buildings.

A motorbike has been stolen from Boroughbridge as part of a spate of garage thefts of cycles and motorbikes.

Thieves took the red and white motorbike, which had been given as a Christmas present, after cutting through two locks between 19 and 21 January.

North Yorkshire Police said today bikes and motorbikes worth thousands of pounds have been stolen in recent days and appealed for people to check their outbuildings were secure.

It later added a mountain bike was stolen from a garage in Hookstone Grange Way last week between 5pm on Tuesday and 8am on Wednesday. It is an orange and black Whyte T130-C carbon framed bike with a new Vittoria front tyre.

PC Liz Estensen, of North Yorkshire Police, said:

“Recorded crime figures show that thieves are far more likely to break into sheds and garages than houses, so consider taking extra steps to protect your outbuildings, particularly if you live in a rural or isolated area.”

Police added officers were also investigating reports of youths interfering with high-value vehicles parked in Harrogate overnight.

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The force issued the following crime prevention advice:

• If you have a door lock or window lock on your outbuilding, use it.
• A simple padlock and hasp correctly fitted to a door can deter opportunist thieves. Use a close coupled padlock for increased security.
• If you have an integral door between your home and garage, consider this as an external door and secure it appropriately.
• Consider installing CCTV, external lighting or an alarm.
• Mark particularly valuable items prominently with your postcode.
• Consider placing smaller items in a secure cabinet within your shed or garage, or store them in your home.

Anyone with information about the Boroughbridge theft can call North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting incident reference 12210034339.

The number of fines issued to people for flouting lockdown restrictions in North Yorkshire has increased this week.

North Yorkshire Police revealed today it handed out 134 fixed penalty notices during the second week of lockdown, compared with 107 during the first week.

But the number of fines specifically in the Harrogate district fell from 22 in the first week of lockdown to 12 in the second.

Of that number, eight were for being outside without reasonable excuse, one for an outdoor gathering and three for an indoor gathering.

A breakdown of the number of fines issued by North Yorkshire Police for lockdown breaches since January 12. Data: North Yorkshire Police.

Police issued 10 of the fines to visitors to the district; two were to local residents.

It comes as the force said it would be tougher enforcing lockdown restrictions and “no longer waste time” with covid rule breakers.

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Chief inspector Charlotte Bloxham said today it was disappointing to see the rise in fines.

She said:

“Many people do understand the seriousness of the situation and are staying at home and saving lives and I’ll say thank you to those people who make daily sacrifices to protect the vulnerable among us.

“However there is a stubborn minority who do not believe the rules apply to them and do not understand the risk they pose to themselves and the wider community.

“That is why when we encounter these people we will take enforcement action against them.”

Last week Superintendent Mike Walker said that the fear of lockdown needed to be restored for people to comply with restrictions.

He said there was less compliance and fear among people under current restrictions compared with the first lockdown last year, which saw streets empty and more businesses close.

North Yorkshire Police has issued a £1,000 fixed penalty notice for a breach of coronavirus regulations at a hotel in Harrogate on New Year’s Eve.

Last week the Stray Ferret published claims that Harrogate hotelier Simon Cotton flouted covid restrictions by holding a party for himself and 10 friends at the Yorkshire Hotel on New Year’s Eve. Mr Cotton has consistently denied the allegations.

The Stray Ferret spoke to multiple sources who allege the party ate on a single table, did not observe social distancing and that speakers were brought in to play music with bar staff on hand to serve drinks into the early hours of the morning.

The party stayed in the hotel overnight and new staff were then brought in to serve the group breakfast on New Year’s Day.

Our sources say some staff were extremely unhappy at being asked to work but feared for their jobs if they refused.

North Yorkshire Police issued the following statement today:

“An investigation into an alleged breach of coronavirus regulations at a hotel in Harrogate on New Year’s Eve has now concluded. As a result, North Yorkshire Police have issued the person responsible for the venue with a fixed penalty notice of £1,000 fine.”

Government covid legislation gives police powers to issue a £1,000 fixed penalty notice for business-related breaches. This is increased to £2,000, £4,000, and £10,000 for repeat offences.

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The Stray Ferret contacted the HRH Group, which owns the Yorkshire Hotel as well as the Fat Badger and the White Hart Hotel, and Mr Cotton for a response but we had not received one by the time of publication.

Mr Cotton has continued to be active on Twitter since the Stray Ferret story broke, including a retweet that paid tribute to the NHS. He has also posted pictures of himself delivering food to customers from the Fat Badger.

Two men have been arrested today after a man was robbed at knifepoint in Ripon yesterday.

North Yorkshire Police said the victim was walking on Bondgate at about 5.30pm yesterday when four men approached and threatened him with a knife.

They stole his belongings and then followed him home and forced him to let them in. Once inside, the four robbers stole a number of other items then escaped down Aismunderby Road.

Police said a 20-year-old man from Ripon and a 19-year-old from Harrogate were arrested by police at about 10am today in connection with the robbery.

Both men are currently in police custody.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could help with the investigation to call 101 and quote reference number 12210027815.

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Police arrested two suspected drug dealers in Harrogate on Friday.

According to North Yorkshire Police, plain clothes officers became suspicious when they saw two men travelling through the town at 5.30pm and stopped their car.

A search of the vehicle discovered what the police believe to be cocaine and cash. The officers then arrested the two men, aged 22 and 38. It is not known where the men live.

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Police then searched the suspects’ homes and seized a “large amount” of what they believe to be cocaine and a “large amount” of cash.

Officers also seized small bags, scales and a mobile phone.

Both men have been released under investigation on suspicion of possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

The police also arrested the 22-year-old on suspicion of possessing criminal property.