More lockdown fines issued in North Yorkshire than anywhere else in England

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.”

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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.”

Boys assaulted by group of teens on Bilton viaduct

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.

Harrogate pub could be shut down over lockdown breaches

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.

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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. “

Police warning after Harrogate victims lose £55,000 in bank fraud

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.”

Woman in hospital after falling from Knaresborough cliff

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.

Police name victim of suspected murder in Harrogate

Police have named a man found dead in Harrogate this week as Aaron Atkinson.

The 38-year-old’s body was discovered at a property in Harrogate in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Two men, aged 46 and 40, arrested on suspicion of murder and robbery, have now been released on bail.

North Yorkshire Police said investigations into the death are continuing and further forensic tests are being carried out, but detectives are treating it as suspected murder. Officers have reassure the public that it was an isolated incident.

North Yorkshire Police: ‘Weekend visitors think they are immune to coronavirus’

North Yorkshire Police has said that some of the county’s weekend visitors think they are immune to coronavirus after handing out 61 fines on Saturday and Sunday.

Malham again appears to be a hot-spot for visitors and made up for 12 of the 61 fines this weekend.

Nine of those fines were issued to a group of men who had been preparing for a barbeque in Malham with plenty of food and drink to keep them going.

Some other visitors to the region this weekend who left with a fine were:

Officers were also busy responding to collisions across the region, one of which was near to Pateley Bridge and involved a group from Essex, who were left with minor injuries.

Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker said:

“Sadly there seems to be a minority of people who think that they are immune to the COVID-19 virus and who choose to not only endanger themselves but also endanger others through their irresponsible behaviour.

“With a bank holiday approaching, we are already preparing for next weekend and rather frustratingly, based on our experience, we expect it to be a very busy weekend. Sadly, there will be no extended break or celebrations for our officers, who will be out in force.

“We will be carrying out our patrols and maintaining our commitment to keeping the public as safe as we possibly can and continuing to protect the NHS from the risk of a second wave of this deadly virus.”

North Yorkshire Police hand out 61 fines as people ‘blatantly ignore’ rules

North Yorkshire Police handed out 61 fines this weekend to people who were not following the coronavirus lockdown rules, despite numerous warnings to not visit the county.

31 fines were issued on Saturday to people visiting from West Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria and as far away as Kent. 17 fines were issued in Malham alone – with 13 being written in an hour.

A further 30 fines were handed out on Sunday, with officers issuing six fines in Brotherton to people gathering to go off-road biking. Other unnecessary journeys included a man travelling from Yarm to Wakefield to pick up paint and two men travelling to Bradford to view a car.

The police believe that in some areas the tide is turning in the wrong direction, with some now taking the decision to no longer stay at home and save lives

Speaking about this weekend’s enforcement Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker said that

“Up until this weekend, the vast majority of both residents and visitors to North Yorkshire have acted responsibly and in accordance to government guidance and abided by the rules around only travelling for essential reasons. We need the support of the public and for some to realise and understand why they are being asked to continue to abide by the stay home rules. This virus is not yet beaten, the threat of a second peak of infection is very real, as we have heard from the Prime Minister himself this morning. That’s why we must keep on going – to protect our love ones; our children, partners, parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters.”

North Yorkshire Police reports more day-trippers in recent warm weather..

North Yorkshire Police has reported an increase in the number of day-trippers making unnecessary journeys into and around the region. As the good weather is expected to continue this weekend, the force is stressing the importance of staying home.

Over 350 fixed penalty notices have been issued since the lockdown rules came into action in March. Nearly half of these have been issued to non-residents who are coming to North Yorkshire to visit a beauty spot.

The increase in traffic has been noticed by Richard Pullan who runs the Flock to the Fold cafe at Breaks Fold Farm at Thruscross reservoir.  He told The Stray Ferret:
” We’ve seen a massive increase in cyclists on the road and also recently a definite increase in the number of cars on the road passing through. I don’t believe they are all locals”.

Speaking about the recent influx of day-trippers to North Yorkshire, Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker said:

I do not believe a group of friends travelling from West Yorkshire to climb the Yorkshire Three Peaks is essential nor do I believe a group of people travelling into the Yorkshire Dales from Bradford for a day out is essential. Exercise can be and should be taken locally following the Government guidelines, which have not changed since the day they were issued.”

North Yorkshire Police will be increasing their patrols and key routes will be monitored for signs of increased traffic and visitors to the area.

Chair of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, Richard Flinton, said:

“Because the sun is up it doesn’t mean the virus is not every bit as deadly.  Anyone can carry it, anyone can spread it and it is indiscriminate in who it hits hardest. Please stay at home and exercise if possible from your doorsteps, because a fine is not the only thing you risk if you don’t follow the guidance.”

 

Bomb squad removes mortar shells from Stainburn Forest

Workers at Stainburn Forest uncovered unexploded shells yesterday and called North Yorkshire Police for help.

Officers attended at around 4pm and located four mortar shells before calling in the Army’s EOD team.

The bomb squad inspected the shells and determined that they were inert, and then removed them.

A spokesperson for the police said:

“Police were called at 3.45pm on 23 April 2020 by the Forestry Commission, to report that suspected unexploded shells had been uncovered during work in the forest at Stainburn Moor, near Harrogate. Officers attended, located four mortar shells, and liaised with the Army’s EOD team. They determined that the shells were inert, and removed them.”

The Stray Ferret approached the Forestry Commission for a comment, but did not receive a reply by the time of writing.