North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has revealed a plan to leave more than 120 jobs vacant this year to balance the books.

Zoe Metcalfe, the Conservative commissioner, will ask a panel of North Yorkshire and York councillors on Monday to consider increasing the force’s council tax demand by 4.99%, which would amount to £14.03 extra for the average band D household.

The band D £295.08 demand would represents an average rise of more than £90 in the amount residents are obliged to pay North Yorkshire Police to cover the cost of the police service not paid for by central government.

Under the proposal, North Yorkshire taxpayers would be contributing 45% of their police force’s £191m income. In contrast Northumberland residents’ contribution only equates to 19.3% of their force’s funding.

Of 2,343 responses from residents over the proposed police budget, some 55% said they would be prepared to pay up to £5.60 more – an increase of up to 1.99%.

Nevertheless, the commissioner’s report concludes there is “significant support from the public for an increase of at least £10”.

However, a report by the commissioner to the panel also highlights that North Yorkshire has among the highest policing precept levels in England and Wales but will need ro make £8.2m of savings in the coming year to balance the books.

The report states:

“I have been clear with the force that in asking the public of North Yorkshire to pay more they should expect more from their police service.

“As you would expect with the predicted continuing inflation and potential pay awards that the budget will continue to be a challenge and therefore the chief constable has indicated that an organisational and operational review will be taking place to restructure the organisation to deliver the best possible front
line and visible policing services within the new future budget constraints.”

The proposed precept increase will also be used for long-awaited service improvements, such as £1.9m extra to improve 999 emergency call handling times, 101 call handling time, and expand means of the public contacting police.

The report states:

“Demand profiling has identified that in comparison to other forces, North Yorkshire Police have a significantly smaller workforce in the control room than other comparable forces.”

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Rising cost of policing

Costs facing the force are expected to increase by £18m, mainly due to pay rises and inflation.

With a £1.5m injection it is proposed to boost frontline uniformed response teams, which will see the number of officers rise to 1,645.

Since 2001, the number of response offices in the City, County and Coastal Command units has risen significantly, from 87, 142 and 96 to 146, 163 and 105 respectively.

The report says due to the labour market crisis, some 50 Police Community Support Officers posts “have been unable to be filled despite recruitment efforts”, and will remain unfilled this year to save £2m, particularly as the force already employs the highest proportion of PCSOs compared to other staff in England.

To cut costs by another £1.2m it is proposed the force will allow non-officer staff vacancies rise from 50 to 74.

Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s shadow home secretary, raised North Yorkshire Police’s proposal in the House of Commons.

Labour’s Yvette Cooper, shadow home secretary, raised North Yorkshire Police’s proposal to leave 120 vacancies unfilled in the House of Commons on Tuesday (January 31).

She said the move was a reflection of increasingly fewer police staff across the country.

Ms Cooper said:

“There are 6,000 fewer neighbourhood officers and 8,000 fewer PCSOs, with the number of PCSOs having halved since 2010. Neighbourhood teams have been decimated.

“People say they do not see the police on the street any more—that is because, across the country, they are not on the street any more.”

Meanwhile, the report states extra resources are needed to cope with increased demands on areas such as child protection, domestic violence and safeguarding the most vulnerable, as the need for more officers to investigate burglaries, robberies, and serious violence has become plain.

The report states:

“This has now reached a point where the demands and workload are no longer manageable and an increase in resources is required.”

Two people were taken to hospital after a collision on the A658 near North Rigton last night.

The collision happened around 8pm last night, at the junction with Hall Green Lane, and involved two cars.

Sgt Paul Cording, of North Yorkshire Police‘s roads policing team, posted images of the damage to the cars on social media, adding:

“Amazingly no serious injuries although two taken to hospital by our [Yorkshire Ambulance Service] colleagues.

“Huge thanks to the off duty student nurse who stopped to help.”

Emergency services remained on the scene to deal with the situation for some time.

A flying start to the nightshift too as we turned out straight away to a 2 vehicle RTC on the #A658 near North Rigton. Amazingly no serious injuries although two taken to hospital by our @YorksAmbulance colleagues. Huge thanks to the off duty student nurse who stopped to help pic.twitter.com/mGGytqlZWR

— Sgt Paul Cording BEM (@OscarRomeo1268) February 3, 2023

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Two 15-year-old Rossett School boys remain in hospital tonight after being seriously injured in a collision that involved three vehicles.

The incident happened around 8.45am when one of the vehicles, a pick-up truck, collided with a wall and went into the grounds of Ashville College on Yew Tree Lane.

The boys were walking to school when the accident happened.

Tonight police gave details of the three vehicles involved: a black Ford Ranger, a blue Ford Fiesta and a white Vauxhall Astra. All the drivers remained at the scene and provided information to police.

No arrests have been made and the boys, who were taken to hospital by ambulance, remain there this evening and continue to be treated. Their families have been notified.

Road closures are still in place but are due to be lifted later this evening.

A nearby resident told the Stray Ferret she heard screaming and “a lot of commotion”. She said:

“I didn’t know what had happened but I was saying to my boyfriend, ‘how has this person done this?’ Then there was a lot of commotion and I said, ‘I think they must have hit someone’.”

The witness, who asked not to be named, said there were ambulances on the scene very quickly, followed by other emergency services, and she had “never seen so many emergency vehicles”.

Although she did not witness the collision, the witness said she saw the scene moments later as others rushed to help.

She added:

“The school children were down there first, trying to help and do something. Everyone got ushered and moved away when the teachers came out from the school.

“The school first aider came out and covered [the injured teenagers] in silver foil blankets until the paramedics arrived and took over.”

Tonight, police appealed for all witnesses to come forward:

“This will have been a distressing incident to witness, and we urge those who have been affected by the events to seek the necessary help if needed.

“We are appealing for anyone who witnessed the events or who has a dashcam and was travelling in the area around the time of the collision to contact us.

“This can be done by calling 101 and quoting reference number NYP-02022023-0100.”

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Two 15-year-old boys have been seriously injured in a collision outside Ashville College in Harrogate this morning..

The Stray Ferret understands a vehicle mounted the pavement and hit a wall along Yew Tree Lane around 8.45am.

An air ambulance attended the scene and the boys from Rossett School were taken to hospital.

Yew Tree Lane remains closed and North Yorkshire Police officers are still at the scene.

Here are today’s developments.

11.53am 

Rossett School has issued a statement. It says:

“Earlier this morning there was a road traffic accident near to the school involving two of our students.

“We are working with the emergency services and supporting the families of those involved.  We would like to thank the staff of Ashville College for their quick response and the care that they provided at the scene.

“Rossett School staff will be providing support to our students during the course of the school day if needed.”

11.22am

Staff from Ashville College gave first aid to the injured teenagers until emergency services arrived on the scene, it has emerged.

In a statement issued just now, Ashville headteacher Rhiannon Wilkinson said:

“Two pupils from a nearby school have sadly been injured in an incident outside the college.

“Staff from the college administered first aid to the casualties and dealt with the scene until the emergency services arrived, which included an air ambulance.

“We have written to our parents informing them of the incident, which happened on Yew Tree Lane as the children were making their way to school at around 8.45am. Our thoughts are with the pupils involved and their families.”

10.56am

Police have put a cordon in place as Yew Tree Lane remains closed after the serious collision this morning.

North Yorkshire Police said:

“Road and path closures are in place, so please plan your travel accordingly.”

10.52am

Police confirm both injured boys were pedestrians and were hurt when the vehicle collided with a wall on Yew Tree Lane.

Both boys have been taken to hospital and their parents have been informed.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police added:

“This will have been a distressing incident to witness, and we urge anyone affected to seek help if needed. If you can help with our investigation, please contact us on 101, reference NYP-02022023-0100.”

10.47am

Two 15-year-old boys have been left with serious injuries after this morning’s incident.

North Yorkshire Police has confirmed officers were called to the scene at 8.46am by a member of the public.

https://twitter.com/NYorksPolice/status/1621097533467418626

10.32am

A cordon has been set up around the scene along Yew Tree Lane, as the road remains closed after this morning’s incident.

North Yorkshire Police are still there and the pick-up truck involved remains embedded in the wall.

All ambulances which had previously been in attendance have now left.

10.21am

Nearby residents have told the Stray Ferret they have heard a lot of sirens all morning as the incident unfolded.

One resident of Yew Tree Lane said:

“I saw a lot of flashing lights and heard the air ambulance. I wondered what had happened.”

10.19am

Rossett School has told the Stray Ferret it is dealing with the incident and will provide an update when information is available.

It is not yet known which school the injured students attend.

10.10am

The air ambulance has now left Ashville’s field. It is not known whether it had any casualties on board.

9.40am

Multiple police cars and ambulances are on the scene and a fire engine is also understood to have attended.

A number of people are understood to have been injured, including three school children, in the incident which happened before 9am today.

A message has been sent to parents from Ashville headteacher Rhiannon Wilkinson, saying:

“We are writing to inform you that there has been an incident on Yew Tree Lane, which has now been closed.

“Three non-Ashville children were involved in an accident, which involved a car mounting the pavement. Emergency services are on site, including an air ambulance, and the area has been contained.”

Police are appealing for information after a crash in Harrogate in which a vehicle failed to stop.

North Yorkshire Police said this morning a black Lambretta scooter and a red 4×4 style vehicle were involved in a crash between 9.45am and 10am on on Saturday.

It occurred on Skipton Road near the Empress roundabout.

A police statement said:

“The red vehicle failed to stop at the scene and continued towards the Empress roundabout.

“The rider of the scooter suffered injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.”

It urged witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage or information to come forward.

You can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC1282 BURGESS. You can also email 001282@northyorkshire.police.uk.

Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230016678.

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Just 44% of 999 calls in North Yorkshire are being answered on time, according to figures in a new report.

The report by the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner‘s office said the national target is for 90% of 999 calls to be answered in under 10 seconds.

But between November 2021 and November 2022, only 44% were answered within this time in the county.

The document also revealed that between February and December 2022, the average non-emergency 101 call answer time ranged from 4 minutes and 3 seconds to 10 minutes and 17 seconds. Unlike for 999 calls, nationally there is no imposed target for answering 101 calls.

Police, fire and crime commissioner Zoe Metcalfe has described the figures as “unacceptable”.

Her office has awarded the force control room  a £1.8 million a year to improve the times.

The report, which will be debated by North Yorkshire County Council‘s police, fire and crime panel on February 6, said:

“This investment will enable the Chief Constable to fund 36 additional communications officers, 12 additional dispatchers, six established trainers and two additional police inspectors.”

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The document highlights how call volume has increased, saying:

“Nationally there has been a 16% increase in 999 calls to the police, and 2022 saw the highest number of emergency calls to North Yorkshire Police ever in one month (over 10,000 in July and August).”

The report also said the commissioner “wants the force to explore how they could deliver a long-term programme of public education and awareness about when to contact the police, and the most appropriate method for doing so”.

North Yorkshire Police usually receives over 10,000 emergency 999 calls a month.

Police are appealing for CCTV footage around the Granby Road area after a man was assaulted in Harrogate.

The victim was approached by an unknown man on Granby Road and assaulted, leaving him with minor injuries to his hand, wrist and ankle.

It happened on Monday, January 23, around 2.20pm.

Police describe the man they want to speak to as white, aged in his late 20s to early 30s, and around 6ft tall with dark, mid-length hair. He was wearing a red coat and carrying a dark rucksack.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“We’re now requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“In particular, our officers are keen to hear from any local residents that may have CCTV or doorbell cameras which may have caught the incident.”

Anyone with information that could help the investigation should email beth.long@northyorkshire.police.uk, or call 101, select option two, and ask for Beth Long.

To report information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting reference number 12230013525.

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A man has been arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs after officers came across a crashed car in Ripon.

Shortly after 3pm yesterday, North Yorkshire Police officers on patrol near Lark Lane in Ripon located a red VW Golf car that had been involved in a collision and was on its roof.

A police statement today said:

“One of the occupants made off from the scene. Following a search of the area, officers located a large quantity of suspected cannabis and cocaine.

“The other occupant, a 19-year-old local man, was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug. He has since been released on bail while enquiries continue.”

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference number 12230015627.

Police closed the road while the incident took place.

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North Yorkshire Police has the lowest number of complaints against its staff and officers of any police force across the country.

The latest figures, for 2021-22, reveal 282 complaints were made to the Independent Office for Police Complaints (IOPC) about the force.

The second lowest figure for complaints was 372, made against Suffolk Police.

North Yorkshire also had the lowest number of complaints when taking into account the size of each force, with 90 complaints per 1,000 staff. Norfolk and Suffolk were next, with rates of 145 and 146 respectively.

The Metropolitan Police had the most complaints of all forces, with 7,216 during that year. However, it also has the highest number of staff, at almost 47,000, giving it a rate per 1,000 employees of 155.

The force with the highest rate of complaints per 1,000 employees was Cleveland, at 697.

Last week, the force revealed it had received 740 complaints about its officers and staff in 2021-22. Today’s statistics relate to complaints raised to the IOPC.

The numbers have been revealed as complaints against police are in the spotlight, following the case of Met Police officer David Carrick who admitted a series of sexual offences against women over a period of two decades in the force.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“The force has recently led a national pilot scheme that checks all vetted staff against the Police National Database (PND) every month.

“This process was implemented to ensure that any police contact outside of North Yorkshire is brought to the attention of our vetting unit and professional standards department. This covers both police officers and police staff.

“A recent report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire and Rescue Service following an inspection of vetting, misconduct, and misogyny in the police service, highlighted the good work by North Yorkshire Police and recommended that all forces make routine use of the PND as a tool for revealing any unreported adverse information about police officers and staff. It was announced last week that all forces in England and Wales will be adopting this approach.

“The vast majority of our officers and staff are honest, hardworking and act with integrity. But we are not complacent and know that there will be a number within our force who are not. When misconduct is found, we will take action. We encourage anyone who has any concerns about an officer or staff member they have come into contact with, to please report it to us.”

Allegations

In the statistics, published by the IOPC,  North Yorkshire Police also had the second lowest rate of allegations made against its employees, at 280, behind British Transport Police’s 208.

The IOPC said the number of allegations could be higher than the number of complaints because each complaint could contain more than one allegation. In North Yorkshire’s case, the total number of allegations against its 3,122 employees was 874, from 282 complaints.

Of those, 370 allegations were about the level of service provided by the police, and 260 were about the use of power, such as to make arrests or to carry out searches.

There were 160 allegations about individual conduct, such as being unprofessional or lacking impartiality.

Thirteen allegations were made about discriminatory behaviour and two complaints were about sexual misconduct.

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However, North Yorkshire Police took the longest of all forces in England and Wales to finalise its complaints. On average, it took 190 days for each complaint, while the next highest were the Metropolitan Police at 157 days and West Midlands Police at 148 days.

The Local Policing Body (LPB) received 61 requests for reviews of the way complaints had been handled and it investigated 39% of these – the fifth highest rate of investigations of decisions by forces around the country.

It found, in 61% of cases, the action taken by the force was “not reasonable and proportionate” after a complaint.