Man in custody after assault reported in Harrogate

A man has been arrested on suspicion of assault after an incident in Harrogate last night.

Officers were called to a property in Devonshire Place where they arrested the man, who remains in custody today, according to North Yorkshire Police.

An ambulance was also called and a witness reported seeing a man in handcuffs being led away from the scene around 9pm.

The Stray Ferret understands officers have today been back in the area speaking to residents about the incident.

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Man arrested after disturbance in Ripon city centre

A man has been arrested after a disturbance in Ripon city centre this afternoon.

North Yorkshire Police officers were called to Market Square just after 1pm following reports of a man acting aggressively.

An eye witness, who did not wish to be named, told the Stray Ferret two police vans appeared quickly after an altercation.

A police statement said:

“A man in his 30s has been arrested in connection with the incident and on suspicion of assaulting an emergency services worker. Investigations are ongoing.”

Anyone with information can contact the police, quoting reference number 12220191661.

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Lack of custody cells ‘hitting police responses’

The absence of police custody facilities in parts of North Yorkshire is taking teams of officers out of action for up to four hours at a time while they drive detainees around, a meeting has heard.

Members of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel have asked commissioner Zoe Metcalfe to provide a report amid concerns over the length of time it takes officers across the north of North Yorkshire to travel with those arrested to custody suites in Harrogate and Scarborough, due to the closure of cells in Richmond and Northallerton.

Custody suites are areas within police stations where people are taken when they are arrested.

The issue has been repeatedly raised as a concern by community leaders, particularly following outbreaks of antisocial behaviour as pandemic lockdown restrictions were eased.

Councillors had claimed the distances involved in arresting people is serving as a deterrent to functional policing in parts of the county.

Panel member Martin Walker, a former judge, told Ms Metcalfe he had received various reports that police officers were “not arresting people that perhaps they should” because of the length of time it was taking to travel to custody suites. He added:

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

The meeting heard the Northallerton custody suite had been closed since the town’s police station moved into the police and fire service’s headquarters at the former Rural Payments Agency offices.

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Conservative councillor Peter Wilkinson said the commissioner at the time, Julia Mulligan, had promised a report into the effectiveness of the closure and gave reassurances that Darlington and Northallerton police stations would be used for custody when required.

He said it had since emerged that the force was using Harrogate’s custody facilities, which took up to four hours’ of officers time. Cllr Wilkinson said:

“This is having a detrimental effect on response times in Hambleton.”

£15m savings

In response, Ms Metcalfe said when the decision to close Northallerton’s custody suite was made in 2017 the force estimated the average cost of building custody facilities was £15m.

She said she would monitor and review the situation with the chief constable, but the demand for custody facilities in the Northallerton area, similarly to Ripon, did not support a custody suite.

Mrs Metcalfe said the force had instead invested heavily in creating “voluntary interview suites” across the county.

She said a government inspection of the force’s custody system earlier had raised no concerns about the transporting of detainees to custody suites. Ms Metcalfe said:

“I do hope this provides members with some assurance that these arrangements have been based on extensive assessments and the recent inspection.”

“The public quite rightly expect the police to maximise its assets to use public money effectively.

“Offenders are only brought into custody when it is a necessity and proportionate to do so.”

Police appeal as investigations continue into Cold Bath Road cyclist collision

Investigations into a collision between a car and a bicycle on Cold Bath Road are continuing, two months after the incident happened.

North Yorkshire Police said a woman in her 50s was arrested and released under investigation while officers continue to make inquiries.

It follows the collision at the junction of West Cliffe Grove on Friday, August 12, between a white Vauxhall Viva travelling up Cold Bath Road from the Crown roundabout and a pedal cyclist coming down the road in the opposite direction.

The cyclist – a man in his 50s from the Richmond area – was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

An air ambulance landed on the Stray and most of Cold Bath Road was closed for several hours while police dealt with the scene.

At the time, officers appealed for the driver of a dark-coloured hatchback who stopped at the scene to come forward. They have now said they have traced the driver.

However, they are continuing to appeal for information from anyone who saw either the car or the bicycle.

Witnesses to the collision or anyone with CCTV or dash cam footage is asked to call North Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 122201422867. Alternatively, email 001282@northyorkshire.police.uk quoting the same reference number.

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Boy, 13, arrested for affray and carrying weapon in Harrogate

North Yorkshire Police has arrested a 13-year-old boy on suspicion of carrying an offensive weapon and affray following an incident on Monday evening.

It took place at around 8.15pm in Thruscross Close, off Skipton Road. 

A number of young people were involved after they were seen entering the garden of a property in the street.

As of yesterday evening, the boy was in police custody.

Officers are working to establish what took place and are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident, saw a group of young people, or saw any suspicious activity in the area at the time, to come forward.

If you have any information call 101, press 2 and ask to speak to PS Colin Steele or PC Phil Dawes. Alternatively, you can email colin.steele@northyorkshire.police.uk or phil.dawes@northyorkshire.police.uk

The reference number is 12220159336

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Arrest after stolen car fails to stop in Ripon

A man has been arrested in Ripon after a car was stolen in a burglary in the early hours of this morning.

The Volvo V70 failed to stop after a request from police just after 3am and officers discovered it had been stolen earlier in the night.

Within 45 minutes, CCTV cameras in the city spotted the car in the market place, and police made chase as it turned into Ure Bank Terrace and reached a dead end.

The driver got out and ran back along the street but was stopped by officers.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, burglary, failing to stop and dangerous driving. He remained in custody with North Yorkshire Police this morning.

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Woman arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in Harrogate

A woman in her 40s has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in Bilton.

A man in his 40s has also been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.

It follows an incident at a house in Byland Road last night when a woman was seriously injured by what police believe to be a “bladed article”.

A North Yorkshire Police statement this evening said:

“It has also been established this was an isolated incident and it is believed there is no further risk to the wider public.”

The scene on Byland Road this morning.

Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Sygrove, a senior investigation officer, said:

“We hope this goes some way to reassure the residents of Bylands Road and the surrounding areas.”

Police were called to Byland Road at about 5pm yesterday. Forensic officers also attended the scene.

The woman is the second person in the Harrogate area to be arrested on suspicion of attempted murder today.

This morning a 40-year-old man was arrested for the attempted murder of an 11-year-old child and a 10-year-old child, following an incident in Beckwithshaw on Monday.

Police urged anyone with information on the Bilton incident to call 101, or if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers instead on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference 12220108308 when providing any information.

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Armed police respond to ‘serious disturbance’ in Harrogate

Armed police were called to a “serious disturbance” on Skipton Road in Harrogate today.

There was a heavy police presence for over an hour when the incident happened near the junction with Westmoreland Street.

A North Yorkshire Police statement at 12.25pm said:

“We’ve just been dealing with a serious disturbance in Harrogate.

“You may still see police in the area around Skipton Road but a man has been arrested.

“The man in his 20s is on his way to custody, suspected of an affray which involved threats to another man. We’ve launched an investigation.

“Anyone who saw anything should call us on 101, select option 1 and speak to our Force Control Room. Please quote reference NYP150622-0139.”

Several witnesses, who asked not to be named, spoke to the Stray Ferret about the incident, which appeared to last for about an hour before two armed officers escorted a man in handcuffs into the back of a police van.

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A witness said the activity appeared to centre on a flat on Westmoreland Street, which can be accessed via a ginnel off Regent Parade, where most police vehicles were parked.

Several business owners told the Stray Ferret they heard a commotion for over an hour late morning.

 

 

Officer who downloaded indecent images ‘betrayed the trust of North Yorkshire Police’

A senior North Yorkshire Police officer has said former officer Christopher Groom ‘betrayed public trust and betrayed North Yorkshire Police’ after he was given a community order for downloading indecent images of children.

Leeds Magistrates Court heard yesterday how Groom, 41, searched the internet for images of youngsters using search terms such as ‘naked young teens’ and ‘youngest naked models’.

Analysis of Groom’s computer tower revealed that he had downloaded 8,707 Category C images of children over what is thought to be a seven-year period.

District Judge Richard Kitson told Groom, of Main Street, Claxton, he would not be sending him to jail because the probation service said he was at low risk of reoffending and could be rehabilitated in the community.

Mabs Hussain

Mabs Hussain

Following the end of the court case, North Yorkshire Police deputy chief constable Mabs Hussain said the force “demands the highest level of integrity from our officers and staff.”

He added:

“This is essential to ensure the communities we are proud to serve have complete trust in their police service.

“The abhorrent and criminal actions of Groom have betrayed that public trust and he has betrayed North Yorkshire Police.”

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Groom resigned from North Yorkshire Police ahead of his first court appearance on May 18.

An accelerated misconduct hearing will now be considered by the Chief Constable and the professional standards department.

Groom was investigated by NYP’s online abuse and exploitation team.

Detective Sergeant Steve Alderson said:

“The fact that Groom was a serving North Yorkshire Police officer made no difference to how we conducted the investigation.

“He was treated the same as any other member of the public who become subject to a criminal inquiry and court proceedings.

“This case shows the determination of North Yorkshire Police to secure justice against those involved in indecent images of children offences, no matter who they are.”

Man, 67, pleads not guilty to sexual act in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens

A 67-year-old man pleaded not guilty in court today to performing a sexual act in Valley Gardens.

Kevin Payne, from Ling Park Avenue, Bingley, was charged with outraging public decency and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

A member of the public reported seeing a man carrying out a sexual act on Sunday afternoon at the popular family venue.

North Yorkshire Police subsequently arrested Mr Payne and charged him with the two offences.

Appearing at York Magistrates Court this morning, he pleaded not guilty to both charges and was sent for trial at York Crown Court on July 11.

He will remain in custody until the hearing.

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