North Yorkshire’s police and fire service headquarters was evacuated when a member of the public handed in a box of grenades yesterday.
The unnamed person is believed to have found the grenades while clearing their house, North Yorkshire Police said in a brief statement today.
When they were handed in to reception, staff were told to leave the Alverton Court building at Northallerton and bomb disposal experts called in.
The statement does not give further details on how the mix-up occurred other than to say they believed the grenades were handed in “in good faith”.
Staff returned to their desks more than two hours later.
Between 400 and 500 staff from North Yorkshire Police transferred from the previous headquarters at Newby Wiske Hall to Alverton Court in 2017 in a £7 million move. The building was previously home to the Rural Payments Agency.
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Here is the police statement in full.
Ripon drink driver banned after police chase near Harrogate“The headquarters of North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in Northallerton was evacuated at around 1.50pm on the afternoon of Friday 27 October.
“In good faith, a member of the public handed a box of what were believed to be grenades, found during a house clearance, into the police station reception.
“North Yorkshire Police evacuated the building, put a cordon in place to protect staff and members of the public, and contacted the army’s explosive ordnance disposal team.
“The EOD team arrived and removed the items, and staff were able to return to the building. No-one was injured during the incident that concluded at around 3.45pm.”
A drunk driver from Ripon who failed to stop for police in a village near Harrogate has been banned from driving for 14 months.
Jonathan Michael Peter Harrison, 42, of Risplith, near Ripon, led officers on a pursuit along winding, wet country roads in Killinghall.
He was arrested after his manner of driving caught the eye of officers on patrol in Killinghall in the early hours of November 26 last year.
According to North Yorkshire Police, Harrison failed to stop when requested and drove his pick-up erratically along country roads for about 20 minutes. His vehicle finally came to a stop when he drove onto the driveway of a farm.
He refused to get out and officers had to use force to extract him. He smelled of alcohol, was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred.
He refused to provide a breath test at the scene and was taken to hospital to be checked over, where he agreed to provide a specimen of blood that showed his alcohol level to be almost 50 percent over the legal limit.
He was charged with drink driving, driving without due care and attention, failing to stop for a police officer and obstructing a police officer.
He pleaded guilty to all offences and was sentenced on Thursday this week.
Investigating Officer, PC Lewis Grainge of North Yorkshire Police’s specialist operations unit, said:
“Mr Harrison put other road users in danger through his drunk and erratic driving. The result is that he has now lost his licence and must take an extended driving test.
“He had no consideration for other members of the public using the roads or those living in the residential areas in which he drove through. It was fortunate that no-one was injured during this incident and Mr Harrison facing more serious charges.”
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Police investigate death following industrial accident at farm
North Yorkshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating the death of a 28-year-old man in an industrial accident at a farm at Moor Monkton, in the Harrogate district.
The man, from Northallerton, was servicing a telehandler machine when the incident occurred at around 10.40am on Thursday, October 19.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said:
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the death and a report will be submitted to the coroner in due course.
“Anyone with information about the incident can make a report to North Yorkshire Police on 101 and quote reference number 12230198599.”
A HSE spokesperson added:
“We are aware of this incident and assisting the North Yorkshire Police investigation.”
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29 sheep stolen from field near Pateley Bridge
A total of 29 sheep have been stolen from a field near Pateley Bridge.
The sheep were taken from land next to Duck Street Lane at Greenhow between Tuesday October 10 and October 22, North Yorkshire Police said today.
Officers appealed for witnesses and information, particularly any suspicious movements of wagons or farm vehicles with trailers in the area.
Duck Street Lane
They urged anyone with information to dial 101 and ask for Dave Mackay or to email David.mackay@northyorkshire.police.uk
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Quote reference number 12230201258.
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Woman racially abused in Harrogate Tesco Express
Police have issued an appeal to find a woman who was racially abused at Tesco Express in Harrogate.
It happened at around 10am on Thursday, October 19, at the store on Cambridge Road.
Officers said a woman was reported as being racially abusive and aggressive towards an Asian woman, who is yet to come forward and report the incident.
The suspect is described as a white woman, about 5ft 6, with dark brown shoulder length hair.
A North Yorkshire Police statement added:
“Officers are appealing for information to help identify the victim of this abuse and to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should email Jacob.higgins@northyorkshire.police.uk
“You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC Jacob Higgins.
“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230198588.”
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Police CCTV appeal after man glassed at Montey’s in Harrogate
Police have appealed for help finding a man they want to speak to following a serious assault in Harrogate town centre.
A man was taken to hospital with facial injuries after being assaulted with a glass at Montey’s on The Ginnel.
The incident happened at 1am on Sunday, September 3.
North Yorkshire Police first issued a CCTV image of a man they wanted to contact on September 18.
Officers today renewed the appeal. The force said in a statement:
“If you recognise the man in the image or have any information that could help please email Sam.Clarke2@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Sam Clarke.
“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
“Please quote reference number 12230166084 when passing on information.”
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Man arrested following Ripon burglary
A man has been arrested following a burglary in the Ripon area.
Matthew Segger, 35, from Darlington, was wanted in connection with an incident in August this year.
North Yorkshire Police had appealed for information about his whereabouts last week.
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Police car involved in Killinghall collision
A police car was involved in a two-vehicle crash in Killinghall today in which both drivers were taken to hospital.
North Yorkshire Police said it was contacted at 3.45pm today about a collision between a white Hyundai car and a police car on Otley Road.
It is believed the incident occurred at the junction with Grainbeck Lane.
The police statement said:
“Emergency services attended the scene. No serious injuries have been reported, but both drivers of the vehicles have attended hospital with minor injuries.
“Road closures were put in place between Lund Lane and Otley Road, to allow officers to determine the circumstances around the collision and to enable the vehicles to be recovered. These have now been lifted and the road is now open.”
It added:
“While the police car involved will have audio and video recordings of the collision, officers are still keen to hear from any other witnesses who saw the collision and/or recorded dashcam footage.”
Anyone with information can email Dan.Stoppard@northyorkshire.police.uk or dial 101 and ask to speak to traffic sergeant 880 Dan Stoppard quoting reference NYP-24102023-0320.
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Man, 18, pleads guilty to obstructing police outside Harrogate McDonald’s
An 18-year-old has pleaded guilty to obstructing police on duty following an incident outside McDonald’s in Harrogate yesterday.
Alfie Stevens, of Coates Street, Bradford, appeared before York Magistrates Court today.
He was charged with obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty and breaching bail conditions, however, the latter charge was withdrawn by the court.
Magistrates took Stevens’ guilty plea into account and closed the case after concluding his time spent in detention in custody was sufficient.
A 16-year-old girl was also charged with obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty, as well as obstructing a person assisting a constable in execution of their duty.
She is due to appear at Harrogate Youth Court next month.
The incident took place at 1.40pm outside McDonald’s on Cambridge Road.
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Bogus police officers steal puppy in Harrogate, say owners
An eight-week-old puppy was stolen by two people posing as police officers at Harrogate bus station yesterday, according to her owners.
The incident occurred between 4pm and 5pm.
Sophie, who is a cross between a Jack Russell and a Chihuahua, had only been with Michael Stuart and his partner since Tuesday, October 17.
Mr Stuart posted on Facebook this morning:
“My partner had our puppy stolen from her on Thursday evening at Harrogate bus station by two people posing as police officers.”
He told the Stray Ferret his partner, who is Hungarian and speaks little English, became confused when approached. He said:
“She could not understand them – they were posing as the police.
“She panicked and handed the dog over to them.”
The couple reported the incident to the police last night. However, the dog has now been returned to its owners.
Mr Stuart said:
“A couple found the dog nearby and took her home last night. They saw the Facebook post and contacted police.
“We are so very lucky.”
A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said the “incident is now closed” following the return of the puppy.
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