Shocking levels of anti-social behaviour, drug-dealing, shoplifting and even threats to staff are all routine occurrences faced by many shop workers in Harrogate town centre, a Stray Ferret investigation has revealed. 

Even though Harrogate is widely viewed as one of the finest shopping towns in the North, our investigation pieced together a picture of “scary” back alleys where shop workers fear to go, and high streets that shoppers have started to avoid. 

We surveyed 50 businesses in the town centre and spoke to many retailers at length. We found a deep sense of frustration among traders, most of whom feel not nearly enough is being done to make our shopping streets the safe and pleasant places they should be. 

What’s more, while some traders had shocking stories to tell, only a handful were willing to be quoted by name. Most preferred to remain anonymous for fear of becoming a target. 

In a series of articles running through this week, we’ll be examining the problems that make life difficult for town-centre businesses, finding out what’s being done to tackle them, looking at whether it’s working, and asking if there may be a better approach.

Our Trading Hell survey covered almost all the businesses on Oxford Street, Cambridge Street, Cambridge Road, Market Place and the Victoria Shopping Centre, as well as parts of Beulah Street and James Street. 

The vast majority of businesses polled (96%) said that anti-social behaviour is a problem – only two said it isn’t – and 52% said it’s a major problem. 

Other behaviours considered to be a problem included shoplifting (78%), street-drinking (74%), threats to staff (70%), rough sleeping (70%), begging (68%) and drug misuse (66%). 

Shockingly, 20% of town-centre businesses face threats to staff at least once a week. 

One trader told the Stray Ferret: 

“I’ve been working here for 18 months and it’s been a shocker. This place has become lawless in the town centre.”

Hotspot 

Our survey showed that nowhere is immune to the problems, but there are hotspots, and the “hottest” spot is centred on the intersection of Oxford Street and Cambridge Road – the area between McDonalds, Wesley Chapel and the Halifax bank. 

One shop owner said: 

“There are often groups drinking around the doorway, which discourages customers, and hanging around under shelter, shouting and swearing in the street. It makes for an unpleasant environment.” 

Nearby, Ian Hall, store manager of Games Crusade on Oxford Street, recounted a disturbing incident when he had to physically keep two men apart. He said: 

“Two gentlemen came chasing through the street and the first one bolted through our door and ran to the back of the shop. He looked really scared. The second one was shouting and swearing at him, calling him all sorts of names, and wanted to knock seven bells out of him.

“I stood in the doorway and told him he couldn’t come in and eventually he calmed down and left. If he had come in, I think they’d probably have started fighting in the shop, knocking things over and destroying stock. Anything could have happened.”

But the problems are by no means confined to adults. One trader told us he had to be particularly vigilant against theft in the late afternoon, when school pupils “flooded” into the town centre.

Two years ago, two Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) were seriously injured in an attack by three schoolgirls in McDonalds. One of the officers suffered a suspected broken nose and the other later left the service, partly as a result of the incident. One of the girls narrowly avoided a custodial sentence.

Alcohol wasn’t a factor in that case, but it does appears to be a common feature of much of the town centre’s anti-social behaviour and is believed to have played a part in an incident on Oxford Street last May, when a man admitted to pulling the wing off a pigeon. 

A common view among traders is that the problems are showing no signs of getting any better. On the contrary, one said: 

“It’s got much worse in the last two to three years. You can smell weed on the street, there’s drug-dealing in front of our door, and I’ve even had to call an ambulance for somebody.” 

Lost business 

While these problems are not pleasant for shoppers and passers-by, for businesses they translate into lost trade and, for some smaller traders, damage to livelihoods.  

One Oxford Street retailer said: 

“My shop windows were smashed more than once, and it cost me a lot of money to replace them.” 

Others complained of casual shoplifting. Games Crusade’s Ian Hall said: 

“We get drunk people coming into the shop and trying to walk out with stock. It’s not underhand – it’s in full view. I just take it off them and that tends to be the end of it. But you have to have your wits about you all the time.” 

Across the town centre, nearly three in every four businesses (74%) said they had lost trade as a result of some or all of these behaviours. Among Oxford Street retailers, the figure was 100%, and many are convinced that footfall is down as a result.

The manager of one shop said: 

“Anti-social behaviour and street-drinking discourage the general public from visiting this part of town.” 

Paul Rawlinson, who has two businesses on Oxford Street, Baltzersen’s and Bakeri Baltzersen, said: 

“Oxford Steet has become a much less desirable place to walk down as a result of these behaviours. It’s more pronounced during the summer, when rough sleeping is a more comfortable option than it is in winter.” 

Back streets 

Although the main streets of the town centre are where activities such as street drinking and anti-social behaviour are most visible, the back alleys are where other things happen for the most part unseen. 

Last year, a woman was seriously sexually assaulted in an alley to the rear of Clarks shoe shop in Market Place. That alley was finally closed off by a new gate after three years of lobbying, but other backstreets are still used for illegal activities. 

One shop worker on Cambridge Street told us: 

“Staff feel unsafe going out the back of the store because of large groups of kids smoking weed and shouting abuse to intimidate us. It’s quite scary. Also, drunks use our property and we find needles and glass bottles lying around.”

During our investigation, we discovered down one back alley abandoned prescription drugs, discarded clothing, clusters of clothes hangers – presumably dumped by shoplifters – and even a notebook containing obscene sexual content.

What’s being done…

One body that has tried to do something about the town centre’s problems is Harrogate BID (business improvement district). It would like to see a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) put in place banning certain behaviours, such as persistent begging and street drinking, from the town centre. But according to the national guidelines, these can only be applied if crime levels are above a certain benchmark, which Harrogate doesn’t reach.

BID manager Matthew Chapman said: 

“The statistics showed that the number of crimes is very low in the town centre. 

“While on the face of it this seems like good news, the stats just didn’t match up with what we were hearing from BID members.

“Shop owners and staff were telling us they were regularly seeing relatively minor crime, but the police figures just didn’t reflect this.” 

So two years ago, the BID launched a campaign to encourage town-centre businesses to report crime. For three months it promoted its Report a Crime initiative, telling traders to report every crime, no matter how minor. But bizarrely, crime figures over that period went down, so the PSPO is still a goal rather than a reality – and the BID is still lobbying for it. We’ll be speaking to Matthew Chapman about the PSPO and the BID’s efforts to tackle these issues in Friday’s feature.

…and what’s not 

Several traders told the Stray Ferret that they had stopped reporting low-value thefts because they did not believe the police would do anything about them. Worse still, we uncovered a widespread belief that the problems plaguing the town centre are simply not being adequately addressed. When asked how well the issues are being tackled by the authorities, 38% said ‘badly’ and 32% – almost one in three – thought the problems weren’t being tackled at all.

Two in every five traders (40%) blamed the police for failing to tackle the issues, many of them complaining that the police response to reports of theft is slow and ineffective. A report released last week by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services following its inspection of North Yorkshire Police only rated the force “adequate” at investigating crime and responding to the public, although this assessment was better than last year, when it received the notice “requires improvement” in both areas.

One town-centre jeweller said his shop had been burgled last summer when thieves stole £60,000 worth of stock, but claimed the police response was inept and late. He said:

“It took the police 12 hours to respond to my initial 999 call, and when they did, they said they’d pass my details on to the appropriate officer ‘a week on Friday’ because he was on a course.

“Very soon after the theft, someone told me they knew who had committed the crime and even where my stock was being held. I believed them because the details they gave were bang on. I told the police, but it took them eight months to arrest anybody, and by that time the evidence had all disappeared.

“They lost emails with my details in them and didn’t even have my telephone number. As far as I know, nobody’s yet been charged.”

The Stray Ferret has spoken to Chief Inspector Simon Williamson of North Yorkshire Police about the force’s response to reports of crime, and you can read the interview here on Thursday.

In the meantime, traders are becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in improving conditions in the centre of “one of the finest shopping towns in the North”. One shopkeeper said: 

“I see it all here. Every week there’s something going on. I speak to other business owners and there’s a general feeling on the street that there’s no-one in power who’s doing anything about it – and it just gets worse.”

Tomorrow – what exactly do the official stats show? We report on a huge rise in shop-lifting and examine the extent of drug taking and wider anti-social behaviour cases reported to police in Harrogate town centre.  

Have you got a story to tell about any of the issues covered in this article? Let us know by emailing us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Read more:

• Trading Hell: Shocking rise in shoplifting in Harrogate town centre
• Trading Hell: ‘We cannot force people to do something’, says homeless charity
• Trading Hell: We can’t arrest our way out of it, says police chief
• Trading Hell: Report crime so we can cut crime, says BID manager
• Harrogate needs ‘collective approach’ to town centre problems, says MP

Suspected motorbike thieves were arrested after a police chase in the Cold Bath Road area of Harrogate last night.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today (March 14) it received a call that four people were interfering with a motorbike parked on Montpellier Parade at around 6pm.

The statement added:

“We immediately deployed police units to the area, and with the assistance of CCTV tracking the suspects, officers detained two people as they were pushing the motorbike away.

“Two other suspects were seen walking up Cold Bath Road, and when officers arrived they ran off. However, officers caught up with them, and they were detained after a short foot chase.”

The males aged 16, 17, 20 and 28 were arrested on suspicion of stealing a vehicle. Two were also arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage, and going equipped for theft.

The statement said:

“We were able to identify the owner of the motorbike, and visited him to update him – he was on the phone reporting the theft when we spoke to him.”

Police added “enquiries are ongoing into the theft”.

Read more:

• Cold callers arrested after Harrogate woman in 80s hands over bank card 
• Police and council launch project to tackle crime in Harrogate 

Three men have been arrested after a Harrogate woman in her 80s handed over her credit card in a door-to-door cold call.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today one of the three men, who are from Middlesbrough, entered the woman’s home on the pretence of selling household items after being released from prison on March 6.

The statement adding:

“He pressurised the victim into handing over her bank card and pin number and withdrew the maximum amount he could.

“He fled from the property when he saw a friend of the victim arrive on the drive.”

Police investigations identified a vehicle connected to the incident.

The car was intercepted when it re-entered Harrogate a few days later and officers arrested the three men inside.

The statement added:

“The suspects were taken into custody for questioning. The driver, 51, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to burgle and drug driving after testing positive for cocaine at the roadside.

“The passengers, one aged 37, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to burgle and a 31-year-old was arrested on suspicion of burglary with intent to steal.”

The statement said the men have been released on conditional bail pending further enquiries.

‘Check before you open the door’

Police warned people to be on their guard against door-to-door sellers, who they said can be “pushy” and “threatening” and may charge inflated prices.

It urged people to:

• Check who they are before you open the door
• Fit and use a door chain
• Always lock all of your external doors, even when you are at home
• Don’t open the door unless you know who they are and are expecting them
• Don’t part with any money or bank account details
• Don’t be afraid to say no

Police added:

“If anyone who cold calls tries to enter your home without your permission, is threatening or refuses to leave your property, call 999.

“Older people are targeted due to their trusting nature, so if you have older parents, relatives or friends, please share this message with them and check they know how to stay safe if cold callers knock on their door.”

Read more:

• Police and council launch project to tackle crime in Harrogate
• Harrogate man given hospital order for attempted murder of two children

A new drive to target anti-social behaviour, street crime and shoplifting in Harrogate has been launched by North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Council. 

Project Spotlight was announced yesterday, just days before the Stray Ferret publishes Trading Hell, a week-long series of features investigating these very issues. 

Over the course of our investigation we spoke to a chief inspector from North Yorkshire Police, as well as North Yorkshire Council, Harrogate BID, Harrogate Homeless Project and dozens of town centre traders. You can read the first of our special reports on Monday. 

Project Spotlight sees teams working with residents, shoppers, town-centre workers and businesses to: 

• gather information about crime and anti-social behaviour and use it to target police and council resources at key times and locations;
• reduce thefts, anti-social behaviour and other crimes by working with retailers and licensed premises;
• prevent begging and rough sleeping by ensuring vulnerable people have access to the services they need and are encouraged to use them;
• deploy targeted, high-visibility patrols to make sure residents, town-centre visitors, workers and businesses feel safe;
• reduce drink- and drug-related crime by working with specialist teams, licensed premises and support services;
• ‘design out crime’ by making changes to the town-centre environment;
• keep the public informed about the project and its progress, encouraging them to keep sharing information about any town-centre issues affecting them. 

Project Spotlight builds on work between North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Council and other organisations to address street crime, retail theft, begging, rough sleeping, substance abuse and anti-social behaviour. 

Project Spotlight will work with retailers to tackle shoplifting and other town-centre problems.

In a sample of 140 patrols of the town centre since October 2023, North Yorkshire Police made 10 arrests and moved people on or gave words of advice 54 times. The force also issued one dispersal order, which effectively bans someone from an area for a certain amount of time. 

Harrogate neighbourhood policing inspector Nicola Colbourne said:  

“Project Spotlight sees us stepping up that positive work we’ve already done with partner organisations, the public and town-centre businesses. 

“We’re using a good old-fashioned mix of community engagement, information-gathering, targeted policing and robust law enforcement during this project, which we’re delivering alongside policing Harrogate’s wider residential areas. 

“Harrogate is already an incredibly safe town, in what is officially England’s safest county. With the help of the public, businesses and key organisations, we’re working hard to make it even safer.” 

North Yorkshire Council’s assistant chief executive for local engagement, Rachel Joyce, said:

“Alongside North Yorkshire Police and others, we have been working hard to maintain Harrogate town centre’s reputation as a safe and welcoming place in which to visit and work.
“Operation Spotlight presents an opportunity for all concerned to come together and build on this work. To do this we need the co-operation of the public and the business community and I would encourage everyone to support us in this aim.”

Project Spotlight comes in response to problems highlighted by the Stray Ferret’s Trading Hell survey, which revealed very high levels of dissatisfaction among town-centre traders at North Yorkshire Police’s response to anti-social behaviour and retail theft.

The results of the survey, some of which have been shared with North Yorkshire Police, will be revealed in our first Trading Hell report, published on Monday.

Read more:

• Police issue CCTV appeal following Ripon supermarket theft
• Government inspectors hail improvements at North Yorkshire Police
• North Yorkshire Police apologises to LGBTQ+ community

Warning: this story contains references to self-harm, suicide and mental illness. 

A Harrogate man has been given a hospital order with restrictions for the attempted murder of two children.

Following a nine-day trial in April 2023, George Edward Yates, 42, was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder following an incident in Beckwithshaw on June 20, 2022.

At the time the Judge adjourned sentencing so that Yates could undergo psychiatric assessments.

He was today sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court.

On sentencing, reports were presented back to the court which stated that at the time of the offence Yates was suffering from delusional thoughts before carrying out the knife attack on two children.

Because of his mental state at the time of the incident, the judge sentenced him to a hospital order with restrictions, meaning that should he ever released back into the community, he will be closely monitored by mental health professionals.

‘Placed knives around his house and in his car’

During the trial the court heard how Yates, commonly known by his middle name Ed, and previously of Beckwithshaw, had placed knives around his house and in his car.

He’d also prepared a homemade incendiary device which was capable of causing a fire.

At around 8am on the day of the incident, he attacked the two children with a large bread knife, severely cutting the throat of one child which resulted in life threatening injuries.

Police sealed off the area.

He then attempted to do the same to a younger child.

Hearing the screams of the younger children, a teenager ran to help them and tackled Yates, managing to wrestle the knife from him as he attempted to harm the youngest child.

Fortunately, all three children were able to run away from Yates.

Two decorators working at a house nearby were approached by the children and they protected them from Yates, who had chased after them following the attack.

Pre-recorded interviews of the children recounting the incident, which were conducted by specialist police officers, were played in the court.

The painters and decorators’ evidence was also read out to the court.

The two men described hearing the children’s screams and seeing them running towards them, one with blood pouring from a large open wound in their neck.

The court heard how the men rushed to provide first aid to the children, using one of their own hoodies to try to stem the flow of blood, while they called the emergency services.

The teenager had also suffered a minor hand injury from grabbing the knife away from Yates.

The decorators stated that as they were helping the children, Yates twice approached them, but they protected the children by shouting at Yates to keep back and go away.

Police were called to the scene and after making an initial check on the welfare of the children, they entered a nearby house and found Yates in the bathroom.

He had attempted to take his own life by cutting his own throat and wrists, and superficially stabbing himself in the chest. He’d also ingested liquid morphine, which he’d taken from his mother’s house days before the attack.

Yates was immediately arrested and taken to hospital for treatment to his self-inflicted wounds.

Following treatment, Yates assaulted a police officer who was on bed-watch duty at the hospital.

The most seriously injured child was taken separately to Leeds General Infirmary and underwent life-saving surgery.

‘Utterly horrific and disturbing crime’

Speaking after sentencing, senior investigating officer, detective chief inspector Steve Menzies of North Yorkshire Police’s major investigation team, said:

“This was an utterly horrific and disturbing crime, made all the worse by the young ages of the victims involved. To be attacked in such a violent manner, without any warning, is sickening, and sadly something the children will never forget. Whilst they have made remarkable physical recoveries, and shown immense bravery throughout the incident, the police investigation, and the trial, the emotional effects will be long-lasting.

“Since the attack they have all received support and care from specialist services, and I hope that with further support from professionals, their loved ones, and the sentencing that has been delivered by the courts today, they can put this horrendous incident behind them and move on to more positive times.”

He added:

“I’d like to pay tribute to the outstanding bravery of the teenager. They witnessed a horrific scene, yet tackled Yates and managed to grapple the knife from his hands. Thanks to that swift and decisive action, the younger children survived.

“I also have to commend the two workmen who cared for the children, called the emergency services, and protected them from Yates until police arrived at the scene. Their quick thinking meant that the children received prompt medical care, and also meant that Yates survived his self-inflicted injuries, so he could be dealt with and face justice today. I nominated them, and the older child for formal recognition and I am delighted that the judge formally commended them in her summing up.

“As for Yates, he carried out an appalling attack on two defenceless children, and after hearing the evidence, the jury found him guilty of the attempted murder of the two children. I’m just incredibly thankful that the children survived.

“Finally, I’d like to thank my fellow investigators, and the prosecution team, who worked meticulously and tirelessly on this case to bring about today’s result. This has been a traumatic, disturbing, and highly emotional incident for everyone involved, and I’m grateful to my colleagues for their professionalism and pure determination to ensure justice was served for the three children.”

Read more:

• Bid to trace shopper knocked down by Harrogate M&S thief
• Council tree expert ‘not in a position to support’ Harrogate Spring Water

Read more:

• Police issue CCTV appeal following Ripon supermarket theft 
• Government inspectors hail improvements at North Yorkshire Police

North Yorkshire Police has issued CCTV images of two men they want to speak to after alcohol was stolen from a Ripon supermarket.

In a statement yesterday, police said two men stole over £500 worth of champagne and spirits from the Sainsbury’s at Ripon Market Place.

The incident took place on Wednesday February 7 at 5:35pm.

The statement added:

“Please get in touch if you recognise either of the people in the images as we believe they may have information that could help the investigation.”

Any information should be emailed to  Fiona.Wilding@northyorkshire.police.uk or dial 101, select option 2 and ask for Fiona Wilding. Quote reference number 12240023658.

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

Read more:

• Barman at Ripon’s South Lodge jailed for dealing cocaine
• Police ‘increasingly concerned’ for missing Harrogate man

North Yorkshire Police has issued an urgent appeal to find a man who has been missing from the Harrogate area for nearly two weeks.

The constabulary said in a statement this afternoon Cao Xuan Tuan, 25, has not been seen since  Thursday, February 29.

The statement added:

“Cao is Asian, with short straight black hair, brown eyes and around 5 foot 6” tall.

“We’re growing increasingly concerned for Cao’s welfare and are asking for anyone who may have seen him, or knows where he is, to contact us immediately.

“Cao, if you are reading this, please get in touch with someone, we just want to know that you are safe.”

Officers urged anyone who has seen Cao, or have information that could help, to urgently call 101 or, if you know his immediate whereabouts, 999.

Quote reference number 12240041667.

Read more:

• Supercars coming to Harrogate this weekend
• Cannabis farm with nearly 500 plants found in Harrogate

Government inspectors have today hailed significant improvements over the last year at North Yorkshire Police.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services questioned the force’s ability to keep people safe and reduce crime in a highly critical report a year ago following an inspection in October 2022. It also criticised the speed of handling 101 and 999 calls.

But a new HMICFRS report, published today, found the constabulary was good in five areas of policing and adequate in four. Last year it was told it required improvement in four areas.

Michelle Skeer, HM Inspector of Constabulary, said in the Police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy report:

“I am pleased with the performance of North Yorkshire Police in keeping people safe, reducing crime and giving victims an effective service.

“I have been impressed with the force’s response to the findings of our last inspection in 2022. The force has worked quickly to improve the policing service it provides to the communities of North Yorkshire.

“Because of this, it has made progress in all the areas of improvement identified in our last inspection.”

Key findings

The inspection graded 10 areas of policing either outstanding, good, adequate, requires improvement or inadequate. Unlike last year, North Yorkshire Police was not assessed to be inadequate or requires improvement in any areas.

It received good assessments for preventing crime, recording data about crime, police powers and public treatment, protecting vulnerable people and managing offenders.

It was graded adequate for investigating crime, responding to the public, developing a positive workplace and leadership and force management.

Inspectors also check the effectiveness of services to victims but do not make a graded judgment for this.

They hailed “significant investment in the force’s control room” after last year’s report revealed only 41.9 percent of 999 calls were answered within 10 seconds.

Ms Skeer said:

“The force has also improved how quickly it arrives at emergency and priority incidents. It should continue to focus on making improvements in these areas.”

The force’s investigations were found to be mostly effective but the number of crimes solved is low.

Ms Skeer concluded:

“Chief officers have made well thought out changes and investments to make sure the force has the resources to meet the public’s demands. The force’s leadership and management have significantly improved its services to the public.

“There are still areas in which North Yorkshire Police must do better. However, I am optimistic that the force’s leadership and management will continue to build on the improvements that we have seen during this inspection.”

‘Transformative year’

Speaking about the latest report acting chief constable Elliot Foskett (pictured above) said it had been a “transformative year for policing in North Yorkshire”.

He said the force had “fully embraced” last year’s feedback, adding:

“We put in place our improvement plan, which was challenging and tough for everyone in the force. We told you that the leadership team had a grip on the issues and that we would manage the plan tightly. We moved at a pace and have delivered on all fronts.

“We have worked hard over the past 12 months to bring the force to a level where the Inspectorate told us that the change has been phenomenal.”

ACC Foskett said a significant investment in the force control room had seen the average answer time for 999 calls fall from 16.2 seconds in January 2023 to 10.2 seconds in January 2024. He added:

“We are one of the safest counties in England and this inspection report shows that we are also now one of the best forces in England.

“The public of North Yorkshire and York deserve a police force they can trust and have confidence in. Policing has moved on and we needed to rebuild our foundations – they are now in place.”

Commissioner hails ‘phenomenal progress’

Zoe Metcalfe

Zoe Metcalfe, the North Yorkshire police, fire and crime commissioner, said she was “beyond disappointed” after last year’s report was published and pledged to hold the chief constable “robustly to account”.

Today Ms Metcalfe, whose role will be subsumed by the new mayoral combined office for York and North Yorkshire in May, hailed the “phenomenal progress that the force has made in such a short space of time”.

She added:

“I am pleased to see a much-improved increase in the performance of customer contact and the reduction in waiting times for both 999 and 101. Call answering times has been high on the public’s list of priorities and my own. I have invested £2.4m in the force control room, however, the force still needs to improve on how they record the information and the actions they take following the call.

“The report also recognises that North Yorkshire Police is good at recording crime and highlights areas where improvements need to be made. It is imperative to victims that when they report a crime it is recorded correctly and dealt with appropriately and I will be looking for improvements in this area immediately.

“The progress North Yorkshire Police have made over the past 12 months, and to have their cause of concern lifted is great news.

“This is a good report and lays the foundations for North Yorkshire Police to become an “outstanding” force, which is what I expect them to achieve at the next inspection.

“On the March 25 at 2pm I will be holding an online public meeting with North Yorkshire Police to look at this report in detail and to hear their plan of action to tackle the areas for improvement identified in the report.”

The meeting will be held here.

Read more:

• Cannabis farm with nearly 500 plants found in Harrogate
• Police appeal after man leaves Harrogate restaurant without paying

North Yorkshire Police has urged motorists to stop abusing the lollipop man at Richard Taylor Church of England Primary School in Harrogate.

The lollipop man helps children cross the busy Bilton Lane outside the school.

But following a visit yesterday, police said in a statement:

“We have had reports of anti-social driving with drivers being abusive towards, and failing to adhere to the lollipop man outside Richard Taylor primary school.

“The school crossing patrol is there to ensure the safety of children crossing the road and failure to adhere to a stop sign outside of a school could result in penalty points and a fine.”

During their visit to Bilton, police speed cameras detected 15 vehicles travelling in excess of the 20 mph limit during a 30-minute check at school arriving time.

The statement added:

“We will be back in the area and continue enforcing to help tackle the issue.”

Read more:

• Supercars coming to Harrogate this weekend
• Questions raised over bid to build homes on Harrogate commercial site
• Cannabis farm with nearly 500 plants found in Harrogate