North Yorkshire Police has confirmed it will no longer close roads or manage traffic for Remembrance Day parades in North Yorkshire.
Knaresborough Royal British Legion revealed yesterday its annual parade was in jeopardy after police said they would no longer support it.
Vice-chair David Houlgate said the decision “almost certainly means there will be no Remembrance Day parade in Knaresborough as things currently stand” because the legion, as a charity, could not justify the cost incurred by managing traffic itself.
The force said today the ruling applied throughout the county and would enable it to focus on fighting crime.
In a joint letter from North Yorkshire Police and highways authority North Yorkshire Council, assistant chief constable Elliot Foskett said the new arrangements would “be in place for 2023 and beyond”.
The letter, sent to branches of the Royal British Legion, added:
“For many years, North Yorkshire Police has continued to provide a traffic management function to smaller Remembrance Day events like the one held in your community.
“In line with the legislation, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing have stressed that policing should not take responsibility for closing roads or managing traffic, other than in an emergency.
“This is to make sure police resources remain focused on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.
“With immediate effect, North Yorkshire Police has repositioned to fully comply and will not be undertaking routine traffic management for any Remembrance Day events in 2023 and in subsequent years.”
Extra costs
The letter said organisations will now need a temporary traffic regulation order from North Yorkshire Council and will have to appoint “suitably qualified persons to implement associated traffic management i.e. signs and barriers etc”.
Those British legion branches affected now have to decide whether to go down this route or re-route or cancel parades.
Mike Comerford, chairman of the Harrogate Victory branch of the Royal British Legion said the police had not provided traffic management for its parade for many years.
Mr Comerford said the service had been provided recently by Harrogate Borough Council, which was abolished at the end of March, and he would contact the successor authority, North Yorkshire Council, to see if this arrangement remained in place.
Ripon’s Remembrance Sunday parade is managed by members of the armed forces.
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Local Remembrance Sunday parades under threat after police withdraw traffic help
This year’s Remembrance Sunday parade in Knaresborough may not go ahead after police told organisers they could no longer provide traffic management.
David Houlgate, vice-chair of Knaresborough Royal British Legion, said the charity had been “rocked to the core” by the news.
A letter from the assistant chief constable of North Yorkshire Police told the legion it would no longer provide traffic management because the force needed to ensure it focused resources on tackling crime.
Mr Houlgate said:
“This immediately puts this year’s Remembrance Day parade’s at risk of being cancelled and future ones not happening too.”
It is unclear whether this will jeopardise other local Remembrance Sunday parades or other events which require police traffic management.
Will Harrogate’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations also be affected?
The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Police to clarify the situation. It said it was working on a statement about traffic management which would be forwarded on.
Mr Houlgate said:
“We were not expecting this and it is a major blow for the town. There is of course a cost to providing our own traffic management provision so this decision by North Yorkshire Police almost certainly means there will be no Remembrance Day Parade in Knaresborough as things currently stand.
“And it is not just Knaresborough, it appears that North Yorkshire Police have made this decision right across the county. We are devastated.”
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Mr Houlgate added:
“We are a charity and we are focused on raising funds to provide lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families. So even though every year we also lead the nation in commemorating and honouring those who have served and sacrificed, we cannot justify spending funds on traffic management.”
Remembrance Sunday commemorations in Knaresborough begin with a service at St John’s Church followed by the parade, which lasts about 20 minutes, to the war memorial in the Castle Yard.”
Mr Houlgate said:
Police appeal after sexual assault in Harrogate“Apart from the covid lockdown this will be the first time in living memory the Remembrance Day parade will not happen here in Knaresborough unless there is a change of heart by North Yorkshire Police, which seems unlikely, or something else turns up.”
Police have appealed for witnesses after a sexual assault in Harrogate.
Officers said the incident happened at a pizza takeaway on lower Station Parade in Harrogate at 2.30am on Saturday, July 29.
A women was approached by a man who offered money for sex, tried to kiss her and then sexually assaulted her.
Police arrested a man in his 40s in relation to the allegation of sexual assault and he has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
In a statement, North Yorkshire Police said:
“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Officers would particularly like to speak with two men who were not involved but were in the pizza shop at the time the assault took place.
“Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should email Michael.crawshaw@northyorkshire.police.uk
“You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Michael Crawshaw.
“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
“Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230141013.”
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Motorbike stolen from Ripon garage
A motorbike was stolen from a garage in Ripon last weekend.
A thief or thieves forced entry by snapping the padlock and breaking the door fastenings.
They then made off with a black Honda VFR Cross-Runner 800 bike.
North Yorkshire Police today appealed for information about the burglary, which happened on Oak Road, off Lead Lane on Saturday night or Sunday morning.
The force said in a statement:
“The motorcycle, with registration WN62 XKH, has not been recovered.
“If you see the stolen vehicle, know where it is, or have any information that may assist the investigation, such as CCTV or doorbell footage, please email gareth.skelton@northyorkshire.police.uk.
“You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Gareth Skelton.”
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Quote reference number 12230141793.
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Police launch investigation after PCSO assaulted in Knaresborough
Police have launched an investigation after a police community support officer was assaulted in Knaresborough.
The incident happened around 3pm on Tuesday (July 25) in Knaresborough Market Place.
Officers from North Yorkshire Police said they have arrested a young man in connection with the assault.
He has since been released on bail while enquiries are conducted.
A police statement added:
“Officers are appealing for witnesses or footage which could help with this investigation.
“Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should email holly.nicholls@northyorkshire.police.uk.
“You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC Holly Nicholls.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
“Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230138428.”
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Police appeal after car window smashed in Harrogate
Police have appealed for information after a car was damaged in Hollins Road in Harrogate.
Officers said the incident happened at 2am on Tuesday (July 25) when a driver’s side rear window of a Peugeot 207 was smashed.
In a statement, North Yorkshire Police said two men dressed in dark clothing were seen running away from the scene towards Hampsthwaite Road.
Police added:
“Anyone with information that could assist officers with their investigation should email Sam.Clarke2@northyorkshire.police.uk.
“You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC Sam Clarke.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
“Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230138046 when passing on information.”
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Anyone with information should call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and quote incident number 12230127884.
To pass on information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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Investigation continues into Pateley Bridge petrol station attempted arson
Investigations are ongoing into an attempted arson at a petrol station in Pateley Bridge, police have said.
The incident happened between 1.45am and 2.45am on Sunday, May 14, at the Dales Market Corner petrol station in the town.
According to North Yorkshire Police, two men walked onto the forecourt, placed a backpack in the area and set it alight. The backpack then self-extinguished.
Two men were arrested in connection with the attempted arson following the incident.
A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson, while a 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson and criminal damage.
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Both have since been released on conditional bail and no charges have been issued.
A police spokesperson said today that an investigation into the attempted arson is ongoing.
Jill Cowling, detective inspector from Harrogate CID, said previously:
Two arrested in Jennyfields after police drugs raid“We’re treating this incident as deliberate, and enquiries are continuing. Thankfully no one was injured, but we will be increasing police activity in the area to provide additional reassurance to the public.
“As part of the ongoing police investigation I’m now appealing for people to come forward about any suspicious activity at the location on the night of Saturday 13 and in the early hours of Sunday 14 May 2023.”
Police arrested two people in the Jennyfields area of Harrogate today on suspicion of supplying class A drugs.
A North Yorkshire Police statement this afternoon said officers attended a property on Norwich Drive after receiving reports of suspicious activity.
A man and a woman were arrested and a suspected weapon, drugs and mobile devices were seized.
The pair remain in custody.
No other details were released.
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Reduction in Harrogate fire engines to begin next year
The reduction in the number of fire engines based in Harrogate overnight is expected to take effect next year.
North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe announced the move last year as part of her three-year fire service blueprint on how resources would be deployed in the county.
The reduction, which is part of a shift towards fire prevention, prompted widespread concerns about safety, particularly life-threatening delays at Starbeck level crossing if a second fire engine were required in an emergency.
Conservative Ms Metcalfe also agreed to reduce the number of overnight fire engines at Scarborough and to have on-call rather than full-time firefighters at Huntington, near York.
Harrogate fire station
Her draft fire and rescue annual report for 2022/23, which was discussed by a panel today, says North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is consulting with trade unions around the implementation of the changes to Huntington station.
The report adds this is expected to be finalised by the end of the year then ‘Harrogate will form the second phase of implementation’.
Harrogate firefighters affected will be redeployed to other stations or roles, including fire prevention roles.
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Harrogate and Scarborough will have two larger emergency rescue fire engines during daytime, when most fires occur. They currently have one of these and one smaller tactical response appliance. Her report says:
“This will increase the capacity and capability to respond to an emergency when demand is at its greatest, improve resilience across the service area and increase the opportunity to undertake prevention and protection activities during these hours.
“This change will take place at Harrogate first and, on completion of a full review of the implementation of the change, be extended to Scarborough.”
An ambulance waiting at Starbeck level crossing — there are fears this will happen more frequently to fire engines under the changes.
Councillor Pat Marsh, a Liberal Democrat who represents Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone on North Yorkshire Council, said the changes were putting people “at risk”.
She added:
“I totally support the emphasis on prevention but we still need to make sure that if accidents and incidents happen we have the right response with the appropriate number of fire engines and firemen.
“The government should set a standard service per head of population. Our Residents should get the service they pay for not a reduced service.”