Area Committee NPT Update – Harrogate, Knaresborough & Boroughbridge

Area Commanders Update

Superintendent Teresa Lam

North Yorkshire Police is committed to providing an outstanding service to the public of York and North Yorkshire, to keep them safe and feeling safe. As part of that commitment, we will continue to have a strong presence in neighbourhoods and communities; this helps us to understand and be responsive to community needs and to build public trust and confidence.

As the Superintendent for the Harrogate area I am very much committed to this. Working alongside me as a Senior Leadership Team, are three Chief Inspectors: Chief Inspectors Jo Crooks-Rea (responsible for the Response Teams), Simon Williamson (responsible for the Neighbourhood Policing Team) and Matt Wilkinson (Responsible for Crime). I hope that in due course and during future meetings that you will have the opportunity to meet them all.

At present our Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPT) are made up of both PCSOs and police officers. They are led by Sergeants and 1 Inspector. They are very much focused on crime prevention activities.

Over the past 9 months, the force has been undertaking a review of its neighbourhood policing operations to better identify the demands on the team across the county. The aim was to determine the optimum number of officers and PCSO’s needed, within our budget requirements, to provide an outstanding service.

You will have seen the recent confirmation from Mayor Skaith that a 2 million Government investment into neighbourhood policing has brought an additional 32 Police Constables and 20 PCSO’s to North Yorkshire. Over the coming months you may see additional resources or a strengthening to our structures and processes. This will not affect our ability to remain visible, accessible and respond effectively to deal with issues as we already do.

The immediate change that you may see over the next few weeks is a change to the Inspectors and Sergeants. In Harrogate Inner I would like to welcome Inspector Greg Davies and Sergeants, Danny Copperwheat, Steven McCarthy and Dan Price.

In Harrogate Outer, Inspector Holly Nicholls is joined by Sergeants Chris Hind and Xavi Lopez.

Harrogate Outer (Knaresborough & Boroughbridge)

NPT UPDATE:

Staffing changes

ASB and NTE – Last 90 Days

Boroughbridge-ASB

This consists of 25 ASB Nuisance and 9 ASB Personal

Note: Masterlog running for increase in ASB around Boroughbridge which consists of known youths. They are being tackled proactively and with use of Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABC’s)

Knaresborough East - ASB

This consists of 15 ASB Nuisance and 25 ASB Personal

Knaresborough King James – ASB

This consists of 16 ASB Nuisance and 6 ASB Personal

Knaresborough Scriven Park – ASB

This consists of 25 ASB Nuisance and 5 ASB Personal

Child Exploitation CSE / CCE

The team have made some positive impact around our CCE perpetrators recently with a female perpetrator being arrested in connection to Child Exploitation and Op Regiment which has a decline in her behaviours and safeguarding numerous children.

We continue to work with further victims that have been identified through MACE. Many have taken steps to reduce their offending and improve their behaviour due to the team taking pro-active steps to engage, conduct regular curfews and bail checks and arresting where necessary. All of this has resulted much fewer calls for service.

Current PSP’s & Operations

Op Vernal

Op Hamlet / Op Rock / Op Captain

Recently prinicipal nominal arrested in relation to Op Rock with various premises searched. Suspect charged with possession cannabis.

Op Pony

The team continue to target patrols along the A168 to prevent illegal pony and trap racing occurring this continued effort has seen a reduction in these types of meets and road traffic incidents.

Op Electricity

A large amount of our ASB calls this year have involved the use of illegal “e-bikes” in the Ripon and Knaresborough area’s. The Outer team have conducted targeted patrols and gathered information on those involved leading to a two-day operation of engagement and positive action which was well received by the public. This activity has also crossed into OP TORNADO whereby a cross-trail electric bike was seized which has greatly decreased reports in the Ripon area.

Op Respond

A county wide operation to target burglaries involving hi Vis and covert patrols in and around affected areas.

Op Game Keeper

With the upcoming Appleby Horse fair in early June, historically travellers have set up encampments in our area which can be attributed in an increase of ASB calls. Masham has been a location the travellers have frequented before therefore, this operation is to record the engagement and patrols in the area to engage with all communities.

Op Tracksuit

Tackling series of Theft from Motor Vehicles in the Green Hammerton and Tockwith area. This operation is to target patrols to deter and detect criminality whilst engaging with the public to offer crime prevention advice and reassurance

Op Guarantee

A county wide operation to combat offences during the busy nighttime economy, combatted by high visible patrols and engagement with licenced premises and retail locations

Harrogate Inner

NPT UPDATE:

Staffing update

ASB and NTE – Last 90 Days

Hgt Inner = 14 Wards (Condensed to the main 3 areas North, Town & South)

North –

Killinghall

This consists of 6 ASB Nuisance and 6 ASB Personal

Saltergate

This consists of 17 ASB Nuisance and 14 ASB Personal

Bilton

This consists of 7 ASB Nuisance and 3 ASB Personal

New Park

This consists of 4 ASB Nuisance and 9 ASB Personal

Woodfield

This consists of 9 ASB Nuisance and 7 ASB Personal

Town

Town Centre - High Harrogate

This consists of 16 ASB Nuisance and 16 ASB Personal

Town Centre - Low Harrogate

This consists of 74 ASB Nuisance and 17 ASB Personal

Harlow Moor

This consists of 13 ASB Nuisance and 11 ASB Personal

South

Starbeck

This consists of 19 ASB Nuisance and 8 ASB Personal

Hookstone

This consists of 15 ASB Nuisance and 11 ASB Personal

Pannal

This consists of 5 ASB Nuisance and 7 ASB Personal

Rossett

This consists of 6 ASB Nuisance and 10 ASB Personal

Stray

This consists of 5 ASB Nuisance and 5 ASB Personal

Granby

This consists of 21 ASB Nuisance and 9 ASB Personal

Child Exploitation CSE / CCE

Harrogate Inner has some of the highest risked victims in the County, in particular three female victims seem to come to police attention the most one with over 800 incidents which are often linked to being reported as missing from home (MFH). However, through working in partnership with our Key partner agencies via MACE we have significantly stemmed the number of incidents by ensuring that officers continually engage with them, their families, their education and support providers, probation and children’s social care.

After extensive work with one of these high risk CSE victims who had fled conflict and significant trauma in Afghanistan and would not settle with her father, the NPT and exploitation team have managed to get her rehoused in a supportive unit in the countryside whereby she can get 24/7 health support, bespoke education and space.

We currently have four High Risk Child Exploitation Perpetrators who through the use of Child Abduction Warning Notices (CAWN’s), Arrests and Bail conditions have kept many victims from significant harm attached to drug running and sexual exploitation.

All of this has resulted much fewer calls for service and fewer victims.

Current PSP’s & Operations

Op Balaclava

Including Unity Grove & Pine Street Allotments (Shed Burglary’s)

Was created In October last year to tackle burglaries, SMV’s, TUMV’s and nighttime acquisitive crime in the Harrogate Inner area. It remains our main Command Priority in Harrogate and tackling this issue is extremely important to us.

Since this time the Team have continued to deploy and target the area with both high visibility and covert officers. Since October 2024 the number of offences has continued to decrease month on month up to May 2025 where there has been a recent spike in incidents (which is possibly linked to the warmer weather).

Despite this various police departments and pro-active teams continue to patrol the affected areas on a daily and nightly basis. We work with our partner agencies and share information regards potential suspects. We have also conducted a number of stop checks of individuals and in the last month arrested four suspects who are currently under investigation. We continually engage with our residents and shop keepers but sadly many still forget to lock their doors and secure their properties and vehicles making them an enticing target.

Op Spotlight

Op Spotlight was created for the Town centre due to high numbers of ASB incidents involving some of our most vulnerable people who are often homeless and have drug and alcohol dependencies congregating for often hours on end. Through constant daily High Vis patrols and engagement and working with our partner agencies such as the Community Safety Partnership Hub, Harrogate BID and local retailers and using Dispersal orders this issue has been almost eradicated completely although this may change with the warmer weather.

Op Hamlet / Op Magic

The team continue to gather information regarding County Lines drug activity and take positive action against those involved. With targeted high visibility and plain clothes patrols in known locations and working with agencies like Probation and the courts to ensure offenders are brought to justice.

Op Tarlac / Op Vernal

The team continue to work with our religious groups and communities by engaging with community leaders and monitoring any tensions whilst conducting targeted patrols to ensure any groups are reassured and feel safe to pray at their designated venues. We have had particular success with our Jewish community who have praised our supportive engagement with their communities across the UK and to our local Senior Management Team.

Op Sceptre / OP Divan

Knife crime is a national concern particularly with youths. Our NPT teams often work with our school liaison officers to produce and deliver crime and safeguarding education at our local schools and colleges. We have a knife amnesty bin in the town centre that is emptied weekly removing potential future risks.

Cuckoo / Vulnerable Victim’s

Our teams regularly conduct impromptu welfare checks on some or very vulnerable potential “Cuckoo” victims in company with Housing staff and the Community Safety Partnership Hub to ensure they get the support that they need and are as protected as well as much as is possible.

Recently as part of Op Tornado the NPT Team and Comm Safety Partnership Hub have successfully executed a drugs warrant and then via the courts obtained a full Premises Closure Order restoring normality to the location and preventing further drug dealing and misuse.

Priorities – Tasking & Vulnerability Patrol Plan (TVP)

· OP BALACLAVA - Op Balaclava – Local response to burglaries and theft from unattended vehicles, targeting known offenders and disseminating safety and prevention advice to the community.

· OP RESPOND - A county wide operation to target burglaries involving hi Vis and covert patrols in and around affected areas.

· Safeguarding Most Vulnerable - Visiting and safeguarding our most vulnerable victims of Domestic abuse, CSE / CCE and Cuckoo victims by actively targeting/disrupting the perpetrators and supporting victims. Including 2 x High Risk Mispers / CSE Victims & 4 x High Risk CCE/CSE Perpetrators.

· Op Hotspot – National response to ASB which encompasses Harrogate Town. This is data driven and provides dedicated and specifically targeted additional patrols solely to disrupt and prevent ASB whilst gathering evidence.

· Project Spotlight – Collaborative approach with partner agencies to tackle town centre ASB / Street drinking and retail theft. Has been in operation since April 2024 and provides dedicated and focused patrol to the town centre based on statistical analysis.

· Retail Crime – New dedicated team for prevention and early intervention in retail crime, for Harrogate Town.