Police 7: Community Policing News late Nov. ’23

Police 7: Community Policing News late Nov. ’23

The NYE’s Police 7 articles are intended to be a one stop shop for our readers, covering crime prevention advice, court reports, police appeals for assistance, local community policing news, information on victim support, updates from the North Yorkshire Police (NYP) and the Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for North Yorkshire and the Coroner.

Police 7 is one of our most popular features with our readers, who appreciate getting regular updates from the police via the NYE.

We lead these articles with a photograph of the late Shaw Taylor, as a tribute to him. Shaw was a groundbreaking forensic journalist, who pioneered police media appeals for information in the programme Police 5. His work led to the successful conclusion of many casses in the UK, Europe and the United States through local programmes that followed the pioneering format of his original programme Police 5 in 1962.

Police 7: Community Policing News late November 2023

The following witness appeals and court reports may be of particular relevance to our readers and can be accessed in full from the NYP website. Address below.

• https://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/news/news-search

Court Reports

Scarborough man convicted of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm

Christopher Bowes, 52, Trafalgar Square, Scarborough, was jailed for five years at York Crown Court, on Friday 1 December 2023 for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm

The incident happened in the smoking area of the Opera House Casino on St Thomas Street at around 5.30am on Saturday 18th December 2021. His victim was Craig Andrew Smythe, 36, from Eastfield, Scarborough, who had part of his left ear bitten off by Bowes. In retaliation, Smythe threw his drinking glass at Bowes’ head causing a serious cut.

A piece of the shattered glass struck the arm of an innocent bystander, a local woman who was aged 19 at the time.

All three required emergency hospital treatment for their injuries.

Detective Constable Steve Monty, of Scarborough and Ryedale CID, said:

“The level of violence displayed in this incident was truly horrific. It more like a scene from a Quentin Tarantino movie than what you would expect in a licenced premise in Scarborough.

Such violence cannot be tolerated, and Bowes has been suitably punished by the court for what he has done.

Smythe will be dealt with next month for his part in the incident. He has been left permanently disfigured by Bowes which is horrendous.

But there is also an innocent young woman who lives with a scar on her arm and remains frightened to go out socially because of what happened that night.”

Smythe is due to sentenced on 8th January 2024.

Whitby man jailed for theft and assaulting a Police Officer

Lee Brown, 34, of no fixed address in Scarborough but originally from Whitby, appeared at York Magistrates’ Court on Friday the 1^st of December 2023, where he pleaded guilty to theft and assaulting an emergency worker. Brown was jailed for 22 weeks for stealing a bottle of vodka and assaulting a police officer while he was being arrested.

The incident happened at around 4.25pm on Wednesday 29^th November 2023 when CCTV operators spotted Brown running from Tesco on Westwood, Scarborough, towards the town centre.

When officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team arrived to speak to him, he became obstructive and attempted to run off.

He was detained a short distance away, during which he assaulted one of the officers by hitting her in the face with an arm.

Sergeant Jamie Lord, from Scarborough Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:

“This is a satisfying outcome and shows the collective determination to crack down on retail crime alongside our community and business partners.

Brown is a persistent nuisance in town with a blatant disregard to the police and the criminal justice system.

If you behave like this, you’re only going to end up in one place: behind bars.”

Superintendent Rachel Wood, Commander of Scarborough and Ryedale Police, said:

“It is completely unacceptable for our officers, police staff or any emergency worker to be assaulted while simply doing their job serving the public.

The officer who was hit in the face is receiving support and is thankfully not badly injured. She and the whole team involved in this incident are a credit to North Yorkshire Police.”

 Crime Prevention

North Yorkshire Police has started its annual drink and drug driving campaign and the NYE is happy to support this initiative, to help prevent needless death and injury on the roads.

“North Yorkshire Police will be conducting proactive ‘drink and drug driving’ patrols across the county alongside static road checks to catch those who continue to decide to drive under the influence. The force hopes to intervene and bring drink and drug drivers to justice before they have a chance to shatter lives, other than their own.

Don’t shatter lives’ is the message from the York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership this December.

The empty chair at the table, the unopened gift under the tree, and the memories of Christmas past are all poignant reminders when you have lost a loved one. Although those who have lost a loved one feel their loss all year round, Christmas can heighten these feelings.

For those who have lost loved ones to drink or drug driving it can be especially hard, whether they were the innocent victim in a collision or the person who chose to drive whilst under the influence of drink or drugs, their death was avoidable.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a choice, and one we do not want you to consider.

The life of the person who chose to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, their family, their friends, the family of the loved one they killed in a collision, and the children who will grow up without a parent, one bad choice can have a lasting impact on so many lives.

Even if you manage to avoid a collision, likely, you will likely still be caught, and this will still have a profound impact on your life. From travel restrictions, reduced job opportunities, a driving ban, a fine, and a prison sentence, is it worth it?

Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing posts on our social media channels based on real-life events. The purpose is to make people stop and think, not only of themselves but of those around them, their parents, their siblings, their children, and their friends, will all these people still be in their lives if they choose to drink and drive? Or how would each of their lives be affected if the worst was to happen?

Remember it isn’t just about having an alcoholic drink or taking drugs and getting straight into the car – you can also be over the limit or under the influence the morning after.

If you suspect someone driving a vehicle of drink or drug driving dial 999 when it is safe to do so with information including their vehicle, registration number and current location.”

Throughout the campaign, North Yorkshire Police will publish regular updates on the number of arrests made and any prosecutions on their social media channels and website.

During last year’s campaign, Police Officers in North Yorkshire conducted 1,035 roadside tests across 32 days. From the 1,035 tests at the side of the road, 121 people were arrested for drink and drug driving offences.

Roads Policing Sergeant, Paul Cording from North Yorkshire Police commented:

“We make no apology for taking people off the streets who choose to drive when under the influence of drink or drugs.

The message is simple, have a Merry Christmas, but be safe, don’t shatter lives.”