People are waiting for up to an hour for a 101 call to be answered, a senior North Yorkshire Police officer has said.
Mike Walker, assistant chief constable at the force, told a North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner public accountability meeting that the figure was “not acceptable”.
He said that the force had an average answer time of eight minutes and 47 seconds for October 2022 – four times the national standard.
The target for police force’s across the country is to answer 80% of non-emergency calls within two minutes.
ACC Walker said the long waiting times for 101 was the reason why the force’s abandonment rate was so high. This refers to the number of people giving up.
He said:
“On a daily basis we look at that from a chief officer team and I know there have been people waiting between half an hour and an hour on 101 on some days.
“It’s just not acceptable and this is why we have an abandonment rate of 20%. We should not be having more than 5% on 101.”
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ACC Walker told the meeting that Humberside Police had agreed to carry out a peer review of the force’s call handling and help them improve.
He added that the police were keen to improve the call times and return the control room to an “outstanding” rating.
Zoe Metcalfe, Mike Walker and Mabs Hussain, deputy chief constable, at the public accountability meeting.
He said:
“We know how we need to achieve that.
“It’s a question of putting the right plans in place and having the relevant discussions and then, over the next 12 months, it’s a question of getting back to where we need to be by serving the public of North Yorkshire with an outstanding control room.
“That needs to be the aim.”
Zoe Metcalfe, the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said the aim needed to be “a lot quicker than 12 months”, but added she accepted that “these things take time”.
The move comes as concerns over the length of time it takes to answer 101 calls has been a long-running concern across the county.
Ms Metcalfe’s predecessor, Philip Allott, was told by North Yorkshire county councillors last year that the non-emergency line was “not fit for purpose and it hasn’t been fit for purpose for the last eight years” and that “the phone just doesn’t get answered”.
Police find missing man with Harrogate linksNorth Yorkshire Police has confirmed that a missing man has been found following an appeal.
Officers said they were “extremely concerned” for the welfare of the 36-year-old.
A police statement said the man was found safe and well.
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Motorcyclist seriously injured in Harrogate district crash
A motorcyclist was taken to hospital with serious injuries following a collision in the Harrogate district this morning.
North Yorkshire Police attended a two-vehicle collision involving a car and a motorbike on the A59 at Moor Monkton at 5.49am.
According to police, the motorbike was travelling westbound along the road and the car — a white VW — was travelling in the opposite direction when they collided.
Further details of the injuries, or the man’s name, have not been released.
The A59, which is the main road linking Harrogate and York, was closed between Station Road to York Road and Maston Lane to York Road.
A police statement said:
“If you witnessed the incident, have dashcam footage or any other information which could help our investigation, please email: Richard.harrison@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101, select option 2 and ask for TC Smith.
“Please quote reference 12220208147.”
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Police close A59 at Kirk Hammerton after serious crash
The A59 at Kirk Hammerton is closed in both directions due to serious crash.
North Yorkshire Police said the road is closed between Station Road to York Road and Maston Lane to York Road.
A police statement added:
“Motorists are advised to find an alternative route if travelling between Harrogate and York.”
We will update this story as we get more information.
Missing Knaresborough man found after police appealA missing Knaresborough man has been found after a police appeal.
The 68-year-old was last seen on Tuesday (November 22) leaving his home.
North Yorkshire Police described him as of slim build, 5 ft 6, with long grey hair which is balding on top.
A police statement issued this morning confirmed he was found following the appeal.
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Criminals in North Yorkshire could make written apologies to victims
Criminals could be asked to make written apologies to victims under new plans for policing in North Yorkshire.
North Yorkshire Police Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe is consulting on a community remedy document.
Each local policing body must have a community remedy document for its area that is informed by consultation.
The document includes options for dealing with less serious crime and anti-social behaviour.
The options being considered in North Yorkshire include asking criminals to make verbal or written apologies or to sign acceptable behaviour contracts in which they pledge to change their behaviour.
Victims of crime, such as street drinking, littering, noise, animal problems, vehicle nuisance or trespass, will be able to discuss the finalised community remedy options with a police officer and provide their preferred course of action for the officer to consider.
Ms Metcalfe today opened a consultation on plans jointly drawn up with North Yorkshire Police.
The options people are asked to comment on are:
- Restorative Justice: bringing together criminals and victims in a safe and supported way.
- Verbal or written apology to victims.
- Signing acceptable behaviour contracts in which offenders pledge to change their behaviour by agreeing to particular conditions or actions e.g. participating in an educational programme or agreeing not to go to a particular area.
- A referral to a local rehabilitative, educational or diversionary activity, to support an improvement in behaviour: via a community-based support scheme.
- Personal/community reparation: e.g. repairing or paying for the damage caused.
- Mediation to support the resolution of disputes.
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The community remedy process aims to support victims by giving them reassurance that their offender is remorseful. The aim is to promote public confidence in the out-of-court disposal process.
This is a method for avoiding court proceedings and criminal charges when an offender is known and admits the offence.
Causes ‘misery’
Ms Metcalfe said:
“Anti-social behavioural problems can cause misery in communities, and I want members of the public to feel empowered by the community remedy, in that they have a say in the best way to prevent re-offending and feel reassured by the actions taken by the police.
“Please complete the short survey to inform my decision on the final options.”
Lisa Winward, Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police, said:
“The community remedy will provide victims of low level crime and anti-social behaviour with a greater say in how an offender is held to account for their actions.
“We know that crimes and behaviour of this kind can take their toll on individuals and communities and I welcome the commissioner’s survey to better understand the menu of remedial options that communities feel best fit the crime.”
To take part in the seven-week survey, which closes on January 10, click here.
Burglary at Harrogate hairdressers this morningA man and woman have been arrested on suspicion of burgling a Harrogate hairdressers in the early hours of this morning.
The suspects, both in their 30s and from Harrogate, remain in police custody.
According to North Yorkshire Police, a man and woman were seen to break a window at Contemporary Salons’ studio on Station Parade at 3.56am. It added:
“The two people then entered the property and filled two bags with items before leaving the area in a taxi.”
It is the latest criminal attack this month on a Harrogate shop, with previous incidents reported at salon Dangerfield & Keane and James Barber Tobacconists on Cold Bath Road.
Police said in a statement:
“If you witnessed this incident or have any further information which could help the investigation, please email: pamela.luettke@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101 quoting reference 12220206294
“If you’d prefer to remain anonymous, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
According to its website, Contemporary Salons is a group of nine hair salons across north Yorkshire and Teesside
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Man, 23, suffers serious facial injuries in Ripon
A 22-year-old man has been arrested following a disturbance on Ripon’s Finkle Street.
Police were called to the incident at 2.40am in the early hours of Saturday.
The victim, a 23-year-old man was found with serious facial injuries and taken to hospital for treatment.
The 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent, he has been released on conditional bail to allow for further enquiries to be carried out.
Crime scene investigators were summoned and a scene guard was put in place to allow officers to retrieve any evidence from the scene of the incident.
Crime scene investigators at the site on Saturday.
North Yorkshire Police is urging anyone who witnessed the incident but has not yet spoken to police to get in touch on 101. The incident number is 12220200870.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Man suffers serious head injuries on Harrogate’s Bower Street
A 32-year-old Harrogate man has been arrested following a reported assault on Bower Street.
Police were called by the ambulance service at 6.20pm on Saturday after the victim, a man in his fifties, was found with serious head injuries in the street.
The victim was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition.
The 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent. He has since been released on conditional police bail to allow for further enquiries to be carried out.
It was revealed last month that railings are to be installed on Bower Street in an attempt to reduce anti-social behaviour.
North Yorkshire Police is urging anyone who witnessed the incident but has not yet spoken to police to get in touch on 101. The incident number is 12220201215
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Three arrested after dozens of bags of cocaine found in Harrogate
Two men and a woman have been arrested after police stopped two cars and found dozens of bags of cocaine in the Harrogate area.
North Yorkshire Police said today two different vehicles were searched.
As well as suspected cocaine, a lock knife was also found in one of the cars and the driver was banned from driving.
A man in his 20s has been charged with possessing a blade and driving while disqualified. He was also arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class-A drugs.
A woman, also in her 20s was also arrested on suspicion of class-A drug offences.
A second man in the other vehicle, who is in his 20s, was also arrested on suspicion of possessing class-A drugs.
All were bailed following the drug arrests on Thursday to allow the substances to be inspected by a laboratory as part of police investigations.
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