A senior police officer has voiced concerns that the closure of Harrogate’s mental health assessment suite is putting an added strain on emergency services.

North Yorkshire Police chief inspector Alex Langley said people who are detained under the Mental Health Act have been taken as far as Scarborough or Darlington after the closure of the section 136 suite at Harrogate District Hospital’s Briary Wing in May 2020.

It has meant police officers have been out of action for several hours as they drive detainees around the county.

Speaking at a recent Harrogate Borough Council meeting, Chf Insp Langley described the scale of the mental health crisis and impact on officers as “phenomenal”. He said.

“We don’t have a section 136 suite in Harrogate any more so if we detain somebody under the mental health act we could end up in Darlington or Scarborough, and that is a real challenge for us.

“They have to go in an ambulance and it takes multiple officers and a significant amount of time.”

He added:

“I would love for my officers to not have to go to any mental health incidents and actually send a mental health professional with better training and competence than we have.

“But in reality with the cuts, if we get a call from somebody who is in crisis and we are the last barrier then we have to go.”

Read more:

• Harrogate families describe anguish of mental health problems and impact of Briary Unit closure
• How did we get here? The closure of Harrogate’s Briary Unit is a story of political debate and debt

Mental health services in the Harrogate district are provided by the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust, which said it has an assessment suite in Haxby, north of York.

It added its staff work closely with North Yorkshire Police and that new ways of working have seen a reduction in detentions under the mental health act.

Impact on police times

Zoe Campbell, managing director of the trust’s North Yorkshire, York and Selby care group, said:

“For many people, receiving care and treatment in their own home can have the best outcome.

“We aim to provide crisis support and mental health assessments in a person’s home or as close to home as we can.

“Where this is not possible, we provide alternative places of safety for an assessment to take place. This way of working has seen a reduction in the number of people detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act.”

The lack of custody cells for all types of arrests was recently raised as a concern by county councillors who said they were worried over a wider impact on police response times.

Members of North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Panel have asked commissioner Zoe Metcalfe to provide a report into the impact of officers in the north of the county having to take detainees to Harrogate and Scarborough following the closure of cells in Richmond and Northallerton.

Panel member Martin Walker, a former judge, told commissioner Metcalfe he had received various reports that police were “not arresting people that perhaps they should” because of the added travel time. He said:

“I can’t see there is any other reason for doing it than saving money.”

Police have appealed for a key witness to come forward after a 19-year-old man was assaulted in Starbeck.

The man was attacked by four teenage boys while walking across Belmont Park towards Wentworth Close on August 31 between 4.30pm and 5pm. He had to go to hospital with an eye injury.

A teenage girl intervened in the assault and the teenagers walked away.

As part of an investigation into the assault, officers are appealing for the girl to come forward.

A North Yorkshire Police statement added:

“There is no further description of the suspects, but the victim recalls one of the teenage boys was carrying a blue tooth speaker at the time of the assault.

“As well as appealing for the key witness to get in touch, officers are also asking for any information or private CCTV footage that could help to identify the suspects.

“If you can help the investigation, please email jemma.grant@northyorkshire.police.uk. You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Jemma Grant.

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

Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12220156586 when providing details.”

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• Man arrested after intruder breaks into Harrogate district house

A man has been arrested following two burglaries in a village near Boroughbridge

North Yorkshire Police said they responded to a report of a man breaking into a house in Marton-cum-Grafton in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The suspect broke into the house while the owner was asleep, but later fled after the occupant woke up and startled them.

The man was later arrested after officers found them in a hedgerow nearby.

Later, police received reports of garden tools being stolen from a property nearby.

A man in his 40s from Barnsley was arrested on suspicion of burglary. Enquiries are ongoing for both incidents.

Read more:

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• Harrogate councillor calls for officer to be sacked over abusive Twitter account
• Man appears in court charged with Bower Street wounding

North Yorkshire Police has appealed to cyclists in Harrogate to be vigilant after a spate of bike thefts.

The force said in a statement it had made “four arrests of individuals in connection with burglaries across the local area” in the last few days.

It added:

“A number of bikes have been returned to their owners but we still have several which have not yet been claimed so if your bike has been stolen in the last few weeks, please get in touch by calling 101.”

The statement said thieves were targeting garden sheds. Some bikes weren’t locked while in other incidents the locks had been forced.

Read more:

• New start date for next phase of Otley Road cycle path works to be revealed
• Thieves steal seven bikes from Ripon cycle shop

Police issued the following advice to cyclists:

• Double lock it: Using two locks slows thieves down and makes your bike less of a target. Use two quality locks, at least one of which is a D-lock. Thieves are less likely to carry multiple tools, so use two different types of lock if possible.
• Lock the lot: Lock the frame and both wheels to a secure cycle stand.
• Secure it: Secure your bike as close to the stand as possible to give any thieves little or no room to manoeuvre.
• Take removable parts with you.
• Park securely: Lock your bike at recognised secure cycle parking. It should be well lit and covered by CCTV.
• Register it: Register your frame number for free on a cycle database such as BikeRegister. The frame number is usually found underneath the bike between the pedals or where the back wheel slots in. If your bike is ever stolen and recovered by the police, it can be traced back to you.
• Mark it: Get your bike security marked. It’s a highly effective, visible deterrent to bike thieves. They know that if they are caught with a registered bike, the owner can be traced and they will be arrested. BikeRegister provide a list of police bike marking events. You can also mark your bike with SmartWater.
• Remember safety begins at home: Take the same care to lock your bike securely at home as you would on the street.
• Check ownership: Ask for proof of ownership and check the bike frame number on a cycle database such as Bike Checker at BikeRegister.
• Act fast: If your bike has been stolen, contact police as soon as possible by calling 101 or use the online reporting tool. Provide your frame number, cycle database number, a photo and any other details and make sure you update the status on the cycle database where you registered it.

A report has revealed the Harrogate district hotspots with the highest number of reported crimes over the last five months.

North Yorkshire Police has published a breakdown of the top offences in each ward area between May and September – and one location which has become an increasing crime concern features prominently.

Low Harrogate includes most of the town centre and perhaps unsurprisingly is named in all the top five areas for crimes including domestic violence, drug offences, robbery, burglary, sexual offences, hate crime and fraud.

But what might not come as a surprise is the fact that the ward has the highest rates of anti-social behaviour not just in the Harrogate district, but across the whole of North Yorkshire.

Despite this, police officers have insisted the town centre “is safe” and that crime overall is on the decline.

Here we look at the top hotspots broken down by each offence:

Anti-social behaviour 

Low Harrogate – 96
High Harrogate – 43
Starbeck – 35
Ripon Spa – 28
Ripon Minister – 26

North Yorkshire Police said in its report that although there are some hotspot areas, the latest crime figures “really cement that there are large parts of Harrogate which are unaffected by ASB”.

Outside of Harrogate town, the force said that Ripon Minister is “by far the busiest ward” for officers responding to reports of ASB.

It also said officers have and will use powers to deal with offences, including an ability to disperse people from a certain area for up to 48 hours.

The report added:

“Continued work is also being done across the night-time economy to ensure that those people out enjoying a drink can do so without the often-associated ASB that alcohol can attract.

“This has included use of drug dogs, increased patrols dedicated to the bars and a joint effort with licensing officers who can utilise their own powers.”

Drug crimes

Low Harrogate – 34
High Harrogate – 25
Granby – 19
Rossett – 15
Starbeck – 15

Low Harrogate again features at the top of the list for this crime and police said most drug offences tend to be within the town centre and with CCTV being used to identify individuals.

Offences in High Harrogate – which covers the area around Skipton Road north of the Empress Roundabout – tend to be vehicle stops, the report said, adding:

“We are aware there is a constant flow of drugs into the area from both home-grown dealers and those from other cities.

“Since May to the beginning of September, just within the Expedite team there have been 64 arrests and nearly 200 safeguarding visits.”

Sexual offences

Low Harrogate – 23
High Harrogate – 22
Granby – 17
Starbeck – 13
Stray – 13

North Yorkshire Police said there has been a “steady decrease” in reported sexual crimes across the district and that the vast majority of reports involve the victim knowing the suspect as a friend or family member.

The force went on to highlight concerns over nightclub spiking incidents and said there have been some suspected cases in the Harrogate area. It explained:

“We have not had any confirmed cases of drug spiking in the area despite treating several cases as possible cases.”

Read more:

• Man charged after Harrogate stabbing
• Police say Harrogate town centre ‘is safe’ despite highest anti-social behaviour rate in county

Hate crime

Low Harrogate – 36
Granby – 15
Ripon Minister – 12
High Harrogate – 10
Starbeck – 10

Across the Harrogate district, a total of 183 hate crimes have been reported between May and September, and almost half are still under investigation.

Most reported incidents involved racial hate crime, whilst others included hateful comments over people’s sexual orientation, disabilities and religion.

The report said just under 9% of incidents have resulted in court outcomes, while around a quarter were not progressed due to the victim’s wishes. The force said:

“North Yorkshire Police takes all instances of both hate crime and hate incidents extremely seriously given their hugely impactive and personal implications.”

Domestic violence

Starbeck – 99
High Harrogate – 96
Low Harrogate – 93
Granby – 91
Woodfield – 84

Starbeck had the most reported incidents of domestic violence, with High Harrogate and Low Harrogate following closely behind.

North Yorkshire Police has stressed that it takes domestic violence against both females and males seriously, adding:

“There are specialist officers that are either involved or review every incident and we take a supportive partnership approach to every incident.

“We now have a wider range of powers and tools that we can utilise to support victims and tackle offenders including domestic violence protection orders and notices.”

Robbery

Low Harrogate – 7
Starbeck – 7
High Harrogate – 6
Granby – 5
Ripon Minister – 4

There have been few robberies reported over the five-month period – and North Yorkshire Police said the joint-top hotspot Low Harrogate saw a 50% reduction in its figures when compared to the last reporting period. The force added:

“There are no linked robberies that have gone unnoticed and equally we have no repeat locations/victims or suspects that are causing increased areas of concern.”

Burglary

Low Harrogate – 31
Woodfield – 22
Saltergate – 21
Starbeck – 20
Ripon Minister – 17

Burglaries are much more common than robberies, and following national criticism on attendance and detection rates, North Yorkshire Police said it has committed to attend “all reports of dwelling burglaries unless exceptional circumstances would dictate otherwise”.

Fraud

Ripon Moorside – 47
Low Harrogate – 30
Woodfield – 29
Granby – 28
Saltergate – 27

The final crime listed in the report is fraud and Ripon Moorside – which covers the south-west of the city – comes out on top by some margin for its size.

North Yorkshire Police described fraud as an “ever evolving and growing issue” which is being driven by the reliance of technology in day-to-day lives. The force added:

“Due to our modifying world, fraud has now become the UK’s most common crime, and as a result of this, North Yorkshire Police have already committed and retained fraud as one of its force priorities.”

Two excavators have been stolen from a building site just off the A59 at Knaresborough.

The machines were taken last night from Swallowtail Way, which is near the Trinity Fields development and Aldi supermarket.

North Yorkshire Police today appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

The machines are both yellow — one is five tonnes and the other is nine tonnes.

A police statement said:

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

“In particular, we are appealing for sightings of any suspicion people or vehicles in the vicinity of this location, or any sightings of the stolen excavators following the offence.”

Anyone with information can email Hazel.Simms-Williamson@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Hazel Simms.

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

Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12220185371.

Read more:

• Police say Harrogate town centre ‘is safe’ despite highest anti-social behaviour rate in county
• Tandem stolen from Knaresborough garage

A senior police officer has insisted Harrogate town centre “is safe” despite it having the highest rates of anti-social behaviour in North Yorkshire.

Chief inspector Alex Langley told a council meeting on Monday that the town centre is the “busiest” ward for North Yorkshire Police, but added the area’s crime figures are considered relatively low when taken in context of the large population.

He explained there have been a total of 243 anti-social behaviour incidents in the area across 12 months, saying:

“That is less than 0.6 incidents a day.”

He added:

“When you look at the amount of people and potential issues, I think it is actually quite a reassuring number and that it really is a safe place to be.”

Chief inspector Langley also said the entire Harrogate district had seen a “steady reduction” in all crimes over a one-year period, including a “phenomenally low” robbery rate with an average of one incident reported every two months.

However, he was warned by councillors that crime was becoming an increasing concern in certain areas and that the force may be unaware of hotspots because of residents’ reluctance to report incidents.

This includes Harrogate’s Bower Street which was highlighted by councillor Chris Aldred, who said anti-social behaviour “does seem to be getting worse” in the area with regular complaints of “rowdy” individuals drinking from 9am.

Read more:

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• Lack of custody cells ‘hitting police responses’

On Friday (October 14), a man was reportedly stabbed in a fight on Bower Street and a 23-year-old man from Harrogate has since been charged with assault on a person occasioning actual bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, and wounding with intent.

The area outside Harrogate’s McDonald’s restaurant on Cambridge Road has also been flagged as a concern after two community support officers were allegedly assaulted by two teenage girls on April 1 this year.

A 13-year-old and a 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have since been charged and are due to appear in court on October 28.

Chief inspector Langley said his officers were “well aware” of problems in the two areas as he also stressed the importance of people reporting incidents.

He added that a problem-solving plan was being made for Bower Street.

He told Monday’s meeting of Harrogate Borough Council’s overview and scrutiny commission:

“We are alive to this and trying to use all the powers that we have got, but again if we don’t get the reports, we will struggle.

“My plea is that if there is a problem, tell us about it.”

Earlier this year, Harrogate BID launched a campaign to encourage people to report incidents in the town centre to ensure police crime statistics reflected the situation being experienced by business owners.

A man has been charged following a stabbing in Harrogate on Friday night, police have confirmed.

North Yorkshire Police was called to Bower Street shortly after 8pm after being alerted to an argument.

A police statement last night said:

“A man suffered a stab wound in the altercation, he was taken to hospital and is recovering well.

“A 23-year-old man from Harrogate was arrested and charged with assault on a person occasioning actual bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and wounding with intent.”

Read more:

• Police ‘looking into’ Harrogate stabbing claims
• Body found in River Nidd at Bilton has been identified

A tandem bicycle has been stolen in a burglary at Forge Garage on Park Row in Knaresborough.

Suspects stole the bike from one of multiple small units belonging to the garage they broke into.

North Yorkshire Police today appealed for information about the theft, which occurred at about 1.40am on October 7.

The force said in a statement:

“Notably, we’re looking for a Transit-style van that was believed to have been involved in the incident.

“We’re asking nearby residents and businesses to review CCTV or ring doorbells for potential footage, as well as any information that could help recover the tandem bicycle.”

Anyone with information can email jacob.wright@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Jacob Wright.

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

The North Yorkshire Police reference number is 12220178605.

Read more:

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The body of a man found in the River Nidd yesterday has been identified, police said this evening.

Police, ambulance and firefighters were called to Nidd Viaduct in Bilton just before 8am yesterday.

The viaduct bridge was closed while the body was recovered.

Tonight’s update by North Yorkshire Police said:

“The man has now been identified and his next of kin have been informed.

“Investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of his death.”

No further details, including the man’s name or suspected cause of death, have been revealed.

He was described yesterday as a white man who was believed to be in his 40s.

Read more:

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