Horsebox trailer stolen in Green Hammerton

Police have issued an appeal after a horsebox trailer was stolen in Green Hammerton.

The white Ifor Williams horsebox was stolen from Boroughbridge Road between 7pm on Friday, October 12, and 8.45am on Saturday, October 14.

It has a registration number W29 ESH.

The white trailer has a loading ramp on the left-hand side, which is unusual as it is on the right-hand side on most trailers.

The inside of the trailer has ‘Swillington Trailers’ stickers showing.

A North Yorkshire Police statement added:

“If you see the stolen vehicle, or know where it is, please email Neel.Seth@northyorkshire.police.uk. You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Neel Seth.

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

“Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230195137.”

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CCTV appeal after phone stolen at Harrogate bus station

North Yorkshire Police has issued CCTV footage of a man they want to speak to following the theft of a mobile phone in Harrogate.

The incident, which took place in Harrogate bus station, occurred at 12.40pm on Friday, September 15.

Officers are urging people to get in touch if they recognise the man in the images, as they believe he may have information that will help the investigation.

The force said in a statement yesterday:

“Anyone with any information is asked to email joanne.bell@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101.

“Ask for PC1488 Joanne Bell, Initial Enquiry Team, York.”

If you wish to remain anonymous when passing on information, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12230176273 when passing on information.

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Police release CCTV image after theft in Harrogate Victoria Shopping Centre

Police have released CCTV images of two people they would like speak to following a theft in Harrogate town centre.

North Yorkshire Police said the incident happened at TK Maxx in the Victoria Shopping Centre at 10.07am on August 31.

A man stayed by the exit of the store while a woman selected nine designer handbags, valued at almost £480, and left the shop without paying.

Officers have launched an investigation and released CCTV of a man and woman.

A North Yorkshire Police statement said:

“Officers are asking members of the public to get in touch if they recognise the woman or the man, who had distinctive long hair tied up, as they believe they may have information that could help the investigation.

“Anyone with any information is asked to email hazel.simms@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for PC1338 Simms-Williamson.

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

“Please quote reference number 12230164126 when passing on information.”

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Police find missing 16-year-old from Harrogate

Police have confirmed a missing 16-year-old girl from Harrogate has been found

Officers issued an appeal after she was last seen at 12.45am yesterday (October 17) in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police has since confirmed the teenager has been found.

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Police investigate car crashing into fence on Harrogate street

North Yorkshire Police has launched an investigation after a car crashed into parked vehicles and a fence on a Harrogate street.

The incident happened on Tuesday, October 10, on Birstwith Road.

Officers said a white Vauxhall Insignia collided with parked vehicles and a fence at around 9.20pm. The occupants of the car had left the scene upon police arrival.

The force has appealed for anyone with information on the incident to come forward.

A police statement said:

“Police enquiries are ongoing.

“Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference 12230192818.”

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Police find missing Harrogate boy

Police have confirmed that a missing boy from Harrogate has been found safe and well.

The force issued an appeal for a 13-year-boy over the weekend.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed that the boy has since been found.

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Police commissioner rejects advice to delay appointment of chief constable

North Yorkshire’s police commissioner has rejected advice to delay the appointment of a new chief constable.

The current chief constable, Lisa Winward, announced last month she will retire on March 31, 2024.

As a result, members of North Yorkshire and York’s police, fire and crime panel, which met at City of York Council yesterday, urged Conservative commissioner Zoë Metcalfe to postpone the recruitment process for up to 15 months.

Ms Winward’s retirement will come just weeks before a new Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, who will take on police commissioner powers including the ability to appoint a chief constable, will be elected.

The panel felt the delay would ensure senior police officers had sufficient time to see eye-to-eye with the new mayor.

Ms Metcalfe, however, rejected the guidance today. She felt months of temporary leadership would not be in the public’s best interest.

She said:

“As the single elected individual with responsibility for the totality of policing and crime for York and North Yorkshire, I have a duty to ensure that the force has outstanding, inspirational long-term leadership to keep our communities safe and feeling safe.

“I was surprised that some panel members saw fit to substitute their preference, not just for my decision, but for the considered professional views of all national stakeholders with a remit for excellence in police leadership.

“It gives me no pleasure to say that the recommendations of those key national stakeholders outweigh the panel’s recommendation.

“I stand by my decision.”

Ms Metcalfe added:

“This is a crucial time for the programme of improvements for North Yorkshire Police.

“The role of chief constable of North Yorkshire Police is a terrific opportunity for an inspirational, visionary chief police officer.

“The process for selection will be open, rigorous, exciting and challenging – and will involve a broad range of local and national key partner organisations so that York and North Yorkshire can be sure that we have the very best of police leadership for our communities.”

The move comes as members of the panel raised concern that the selection of the chief constable would coincide with the election of the Mayor for York and North Yorkshire.

Cllr Lindsay Burr, who represents Malton, said it would be an incorrect decision for the public to appoint a chief constable when the force’s strategic direction had not been set by the incoming mayor.

Huby councillor and former police officer Malcolm Taylor said while moving ahead with recruiting a chief constable might be a good decision in the short-term, the appointment was a long-term role.

Meanwhile, Ms Metcalfe also rejected an option to appoint an interim chief constable earlier this month.

The Stray Ferret reported that the commissioner was also given alternatives, including appointing the deputy chief constable to role until after mayoral election, but turned down both options in favour of starting a recruitment process.

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Police enquiries continue into Pateley Bridge petrol station attempted arson

Police enquiries are ongoing into an attempted arson at a petrol station in Pateley Bridge.

The incident happened between 1.45am and 2.45am on Sunday, May 14, at the Dales Market Corner petrol station in the town.

Officers at North Yorkshire Police said two men walked onto the forecourt, placed a backpack in the area and set it alight. The backpack then self-extinguished.

The force has confirmed that enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.

It comes as two men were arrested in connection with the attempted arson following the incident.

Dales Market Corner petrol station in Pateley Bridge.

Dales Market Corner petrol station in Pateley Bridge.

A 36-year-old man was arrested on May 14 on suspicion of arson and criminal damage. He was interviewed and later released on conditional bail.

A second man, 45, was arrested on June 5 in connection with the incident. He was bailed while enquiries continue.

Meanwhile, police have reiterated an appeal to the public to get in touch if they have any information or can identify the man in CCTV images issued by the force.

A police statement added:

“Anyone with any information that could assist the investigation is asked to email Jill.Cowling@northyorkshire.police.uk or you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Jill Cowling.

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

“Please quote reference number 12230086186 when passing on information.”

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Call for North Yorkshire police commissioner to delay chief constable appointment

A watchdog has urged North Yorkshire’s police commissioner to delay the appointment of a new chief constable for up to 15 months, partly to ensure the top police officer sees eye-to-eye with an incoming elected mayor.

All but four members of North Yorkshire and York’s police, fire and crime panel voted to recommend to commissioner Zoe Metcalfe that she postpones finding a successor to chief constable Lisa Winward, who announced last month she would retire in March next year.

A meeting of the panel at City of York Council heard Ms Winward’s retirement had come at a particularly inopportune time as she would be leaving the key role just weeks before a mayor, who would set policing priorities, was expected to be elected to an incoming combined authority.

Panel members heard while the commissioner had decided to launch the recruitment process, with a likely appointment date in April, if the process was launched after the expected mayoral election in May, a new chief constable may not be appointed until 2025.

Ms Metcalfe told the meeting she had been independently advised to launch the recruitment as soon as practically possible by a string of national bodies and top officials, including the chiefs of the police inspectorate and the college of policing as well as Unison.

She said: 

“I am not satisfied that deferring the decision to the incoming mayor, which would incur inevitable delay, for many months, and even extending until 2025, is the right decision for the public, delivery of service and North Yorkshire Police.”

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Following concerns that uncertainty over who the incoming mayor would be could deter some candidates from applying to be chief constable, she added the role of leading the force was an “immensely exciting prospect” for any police leader.

She underlined that if the process was delayed until after the election the deputy chief constable would be asked to step up for “a very prolonged period of time”.

She said her experience of working with chief constables was that they were “very professional people” who would go out of their way to make a working relationship with the new mayor and deliver the mayor’s priorities.

Panel member Martin Walker, a former judge, backed the commissioner’s decision, saying one of the main criteria for a chief constable was to be “independent and strong”.

He said: 

“If two people at the top of the most difficult, important and complex jobs can’t get on, and it has to depend on personalities, I think that’s wrong and frankly it wouldn’t be fit to do the job.

“In my own experience, throughout my career, I have had to work with people I don’t like, and I’m sure some didn’t like me, but it’s necessary to do that in life, and in my view you have to get on with it.”

However, several panel members said the relationship between the mayor and chief constable was vital and they wanted to see the priorities of the incoming mayor part of the process for the selection of a new chief constable.

The meeting the commissioner repeatedly pressed to pause the recruitment process until after a mayor is elected.

Cllr Lindsay Burr, who represents Malton, said it would be an incorrect decision for the public to appoint a chief constable when the force’s strategic direction had not been set by the incoming mayor.

Huby councillor and former police officer Malcolm Taylor said while moving ahead with recruiting a chief constable might be a good decision in the short-term, the appointment was a long-term role.

Police link Scotton collision to Knaresborough car theft

North Yorkshire Police believe a collision in Scotton could be linked to a recent car theft in Knaresborough.

Emergency services, including North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, were called to the incident, which happened on Market Flat Lane in Scotton at 6.17pm yesterday.

Fire crews found a 53-reg blue Land Rover Freelander on its roof on arrival.

A police spokesperson told the Stray Ferret:

“The vehicle had overturned and two young men ran off into a nearby field, off Scotton Way.

“Despite ground searched and assistance from a police airplane, they have not yet been located.”

The force does not believe the men suffered serious injuries.

It added an investigation into the theft of the Land Rover Freelander in Knaresborough, which happened on Wednesday, October 11, has been linked to the collision.

The car is believed to have been stolen between 2pm and 6pm that day.

A spokesperson added:

“Witnesses or anyone with dash-cam or doorbell footage are asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 4, and speak to the Force Control Room.”

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Quote reference 12230193555 when providing details.

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