Police 7: Community Policing Dec. ’22

Police 7: Community Policing Dec. ’22

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), the Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for North Yorkshire, and the Coroner.

Police 7 has been one of our most popular regular 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 ground-breaking forensic journalist, who pioneered Police media appeals for information in the programme Police 5. His work led to the successful conclusion of many cases in the UK, Europe and the United States through local programmes that followed the pioneering format of his original programme called Police 5 in 1962.

The NYE will continue to immediately publish urgent appeals for information from North Yorkshire Police (NYP), in missing persons cases, etc.

Police 7: Community Policing News Dec. ’22

NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING

The following Witness Appeals and Court Reports may be of particular relevance to our readers and can be accessed from the NYP website. Link below.

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

Follow up to the Novmber Police 7 

Drink driving over Christmas

In the November Police 7, the NYE reported that from the 1^st of December, NYP’s annual drink and drug drive campaign saw Officers patrolling the County in marked and unmarked Police vehicles in a bid to ensure that those who put their own lives and other road users’ lives at risk are caught and prosecuted.

During last year’s campaign there were:

• 137 people arrested for drink or drug driving.
• 72 people were charged with an offence.
• 25 of the arrests were made following a road traffic collision.

North Yorkshire Police has released the results of the 2022 annual Christmas crackdown on drink and drug drivers which started on the 1^st of December 2022 and ended on the 1^st of January 2023. In total NYP conducted 1,035 roadside tests in North Yorkshire in this period. There were 73 arrests for drink driving, 40 arrests for drug driving (one person was arrested for both drink and drug driving) and 9 people were arrested for failing to provide samples. 18 of the arrests were following a road traffic collision.

Out of the 121 arrests, 49 people have so far been charged.

7 of the 49 have been convicted leading to £3,621 in fines and costs, and 126 months in disqualifications.

Speaking about the results, Superintendent Emma Aldred, Head of Specialist Operations at North Yorkshire Police commented:

“Along with other emergency services we see far too often the devastating consequences that drink and drug driving causes.

This campaign has focused on asking people to call us with information about drink and drug drivers.

I’m pleased to say we’ve received a significant amount of calls over the past month and often these calls have often resulted in arrests and most likely the prevention of further devastation.

I would like to thank anyone who has responded to our campaign and called us with information.

The Christmas campaign has ended for another year, but we will never stop targeting drink and drug drivers. We’re persistent in our approach all year round and we will never give up on the fight to make the roads in North Yorkshire a safer place for everyone.”

The NYE was very happy to have supported NYP’s efforts to keep the roads safe by publicising the NYP Christmas drink driving campaign. The increase in the number of people calling in reports of drunk and drug drivers and the fall in the number of arrests from last year represents a significant success for NYP. It indicates that more drivers are deterred from drink and drunk driving by the knowledge that NYP is proactively targeting them.

Operation Carol: Protecting shoppers

Police in Scarborough launched Operation Carol proactive and highly visible patrols in the run up to Christmas to combat retail crime and provide a reassuring presence for shoppers.

Operation Carol was supported by British Transport Police covering Scarborough and York train stations, and local bus operators.

Officers and PCSOs from the Scarborough Neighbourhood Policing Team worked closely with retailers and community partners to enhance safety and security in Scarborough’s shopping areas. This has deterred crime and resulted in a number of arrests by the Team

Following an incident at an outdoor-clothing store on Newborough at around midday on 20^th December 2022, a PCSO stopped a man and woman who were walking along Waterhouse Lane at 12.22pm. The man ran away but the PCSO detained the woman and seized items of clothing that were believed to have been stolen.

The woman was taken into custody for questioning and later charged with theft from a shop. She was bailed with conditions to appear at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court. Enquiries are ongoing both in Scarborough and York to trace the man.

Also appearing at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on 9th January are a 30-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman, both from Scarborough, for shop theft charges relating to an incident at a store on St Thomas Street on 17^th December. They were spotted by shop staff leaving the store with goods without paying and they were arrested nearby by Officers. 

PC Kirsty Masters, the Scarborough Town Centre Beat Manager, said:

“We know that retail crime causes a great of upset, disruption and loss to our business community, especially at a busy time of year like Christmas.

Under Operation Carol, we’re working closely with retailers and playing an active role in the town’s Shopwatch scheme. This provides quick, two-way communication and a faster police response to deal with shop theft incidents and anti-social behaviour issues.

This latest arrest and charge, and the ongoing investigation into the suspected accomplice, shows our determination to target suspected offenders.

It also sends out a clear message to shoplifters for York or elsewhere that they will be locked-up if they come to Scarborough.”

Witness Appeals

Scarborough Cannabis Factory (Reference number 12220229340)

Police were alerted to Marine Residence on Belmont Road by the Fire Service at 3.30am on 29^th December 2022.

The building is believed to have been unoccupied at the time of the fire, but there is evidence people had been staying inside to tend to the cannabis plants. Fire investigators have determined that the cause of fire was electrical.

Police enquiries are ongoing in and around the hotel as Officers investigate who is involved in the cannabis factory.

Altercation in Scarborough taxi office which left a woman needing medical treatment. Ref: NYP-04122022-0245

In the early hours of Friday 3^rd December 2022 when two men were involved in an altercation at the Nippy Taxi Office on St Thomas Street in Scarborough.

During the incident, a woman was knocked into a metal pillar which resulted in her suffering head injuries that required medical treatment.

If you saw anything, or have any information which could help us establish the full circumstances of the incident, please email john-simon.coleman@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101 and ask for PC 1033.

Contact

Anyone with information is asked to make a report via the North Yorkshire Police website or by calling 101.

If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Court Reports

Domestic abuser jailed

Rafal Rekowski, of Selby, aged 26, has been jailed for six-and-a-half years. He will also spend three years on extended licence and was handed a lifelong restraining order.

Rekowski, stabbed his former partner three times with a kitchen knife. CCTV enquiries revealed Rekowski had discarded the knife blade down a storm drain, a specialist search team later recovered the blade from the drain. The investigation involved North Yorkshire Police’s Digital Forensic Unit, which discovered that Rekowski had installed software on the victim’s computer to monitor her social media accounts after they had split up.

Following the conclusion of the court case, Detective Alex Dorlin from North Yorkshire Police commented:

“This stabbing could have easily been far more serious if it wasn’t for intervention of people who were in the area at the time.

I am glad Rekowski pleaded guilty, preventing the victim having to go through a trial, and although the sentence will never make up for the trauma she has been through, I hope it will help her begin to rebuild her life.

North Yorkshire Police takes all forms of domestic abuse incredibly seriously. If you are affected by it, please have confidence in reporting it to us – we will listen and we will support you throughout our investigation.”

Crime Prevention and Victim Support:

Needle and drink spiking

Spiking is when someone puts alcohol or drugs into another person’s drink or body without their consent or knowledge. This is illegal even if no other offence is committed. People can also be the victims of ‘needle spiking’, which is injecting someone with drugs without their consent.

The majority of reports (64%) happen on weekends and 59% take place in pubs, bars and clubs and 7% at private premises. The average age of those reporting spiking incident is 27, with the majority (74%) of victims identifying as female.

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Violence Against Women and Girls, Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth said:

“Behind each of these reports is a frightened victim whose night out has turned into a nightmare. I know from talking to victims of spiking how utterly terrifying it can be.

Police forces have increased action against spiking with uniformed and covert operations in bars and clubs, working alongside venues to prevent and investigate spiking.

Spiking is a complex and challenging offence to investigate. Drugs pass through the system quickly and there is often limited evidence to identify offenders, which means it’s not easy to get these cases to court. 

In order to have the best chance of identifying drugs and bringing offenders to justice, our message to anyone who thinks they have been spiked is to report early and be tested by the police.

Don’t let the fact that you might have knowingly taken illegal drugs, stop you from reporting. It’s really important that if you do think you have been spiked and you have taken drugs that you let the officer know so that they have the full picture.”

If you think you’ve been spiked, call 999 or 101 to report it to the Police, who need to know about every possible spiking so we can investigate, even if no other crime has taken place. If you are out in a bar or club, you can report to a member of staff who will be able to help and support you.

Police will take a non-invasive urine sample. Some drugs leave the body in a very short time (within 12 hours), so it’s important to test as soon as possible. Other drugs remain in the body longer, so testing will be considered up to seven days after the incident. The test the Police use is the most effective way of finding out whether you have been spiked.

If you are tested in a hospital or by your GP, you will need to also have a Police test, as this is what can be used as evidence to support charges or convictions.

If you tell the Police how much you have drunk and whether you have voluntarily taken drugs, they will be able to provide a more accurate result. It is not a crime to have illegal drugs in your system (unless you are driving), so please don’t let this stop you reporting spiking.

The test results will come back in three weeks and will be discussed with you.

Jayne Butler, CEO Rape Crisis England & Wales said:

“Spiking is a serious crime that can leave victims and survivors feeling frightened and disorientated. If you suspect you have experienced spiking you might be unsure what has happened to you, have vague memories, or feel confused. You might know you have been spiked but don’t know if you have been raped or sexually assaulted. No matter the circumstances, you are not to blame and support is available.

At Rape Crisis we take every person’s experience of being spiked seriously. Rape Crisis workers can help you to make sense of your feelings, support you to make any appointments such as medical examinations or forensic tests, and offer choice around whether you would like to report to the police.

We’ll help you to explore your options and support you to make decisions that feel right for you. You can also contact us for free, confidential emotional support, at any time of the day or night.”

If you are injured or have symptoms you are worried about after being spiked, call NHS Direct on 111.

If you think you have been sexually assaulted, go to your nearest Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for specialist care and support. In North Yorkshire this is Bridge House in York.

Call them on 0330 223 0362

Email bridgehouse.sarc@nhs.net

Or go to www.bridgehousesarc.org/

You can also contact the Supporting Victims in North Yorkshire for confidential support and information. Go to www.supportingvictims.org or call 01609 643100.