Police 7: Policing News early-June 2023

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 has been 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 called Police 5 in 1962.

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

Police 7: Community Policing News early June 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

Witness Appeals

Spate of Scarborough burglaries

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses and information about a recent spate of burglaries in Scarborough. In particular, they are appealing for information or footage from the area at the time of the incidents, such as dashcam, doorbell footage and CCTV.

The incidents, which officers believe are linked, occurred on the north side of Scarborough at addresses on Hilcrest Avenue, Green Howards Drive and North Cliff Avenue along with a further incident on Scalby Beck Road.

It is believed the burglaries took place between 12pm and 3:15pm on Friday the 26^th of May.

Officers would like to speak with a white man in his early 20s, wearing a dark coloured hooded top on a dark coloured bike with white front forks who was seen in the area at the time and who, officers believe could help them with their enquiries.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should email James.temple@northyorkshire.police.uk.

You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select Option 2, and ask for James Temple.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230095083.

North Yorkshire Police would ask that residents in the local community be vigilant at this time and ensure any valuables on show are locked away and all precautions are taken to secure access to your property.

Please see the North Yorkshire Police website for information about how to protect your home from crime:

Protecting your home from crime | Crime prevention | North Yorkshire Police

If you believe you neighbours are away, that you check these properties to ensure they remain secure or if you have any concerns to contact the police.

Child attacked in Scarborough

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses and information about an assault of a young child that happened at William Street Coach Park, Dean Road at around 2:30pm on Wednesday the 5^th of April 2023. This involved a man forcibly grabbing an eight-year-old child, who was playing, resulting in minor reddening to the child’s arm.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information about a man, woman and child who walked away from the scene towards Dean Road and Columbus Ravine.

The man has been described by the child as being in his 50’s with a grey beard and grey hair. His height is approximately 5′ 4”, he is of a medium build and was wearing a grey jacket and grey boots.

The woman is described as white, in her 40’s, wearing a grey and pink coat and sunglasses. The child, who was with them was likely to be wearing a dark green coat and had a monster truck toy.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should email zoe.todd@northyorkshire.police.uk

You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select Option 2, and ask for Zoē Todd.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230060526.

Assault in Scarborough

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses and information about an assault that occurred on part of the cinder track between St Leonards Crescent and Northstead School just after 4pm on Tuesday the 16^th of May 2023.

The incident involved a woman in her fifties and two boys aged 12-14 years who were riding an electric scooter.

The woman was hit on the back of her head, which left her shocked and upset.

Officers would like to hear from anyone who was walking on the cinder track at the time of the incident who may have witnessed the incident or have information that could assist with the investigation.

Please email holly.marshall@northyorkshire.police.uk.

You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select Option 2, and ask for Holly Marshall.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230087764.

Interpol appeal for assistance: Operation “Identify Me”

Operation Identify Me is a public appeal by Interpol to identify 22 women, believed to have been murdered in Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands.

Despite extensive police investigations, their identity was never established. Who they are, where they are from and why they were in these countries is unknown. The evidence suggests they could have come from other countries including the UK.

Interpol has published a Black Notice for each victim. These alerts are usually for police only, not the public, but unusually Interpol is publicising the details of each case, including facial reconstruction images and other potential identifiers, in the hope that someone might recognize them.

If you remember a friend, family member or colleague who suddenly disappeared, or if you are one of our many serving or retired police readers, please access the Interpol website and review each case.

https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/Operation-Identify-Me

Please contact the relevant national Police team via the form on each page if you have any information about any of the cases.

Court Reports

Scarborough mother and son jailed

A mother and son from Scarborough have been sent to prison for three years after Operation Expedite Officers caught them dealing drugs including Class A cocaine and ecstasy.

Kirsty Anne Burnett, aged 41 and her son Andrew James Peter Burnett, aged 20, both of King Street, Scarborough were sentenced at York Crown Court on Tuesday the 6^th of June 2023. Both had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply cocaine, MDMA (often known as ecstasy), cannabis, and Class C drugs diazepam, bromazolam and etizolam between May and November 2021.

Operation Expedite Officers, who are part of a proactive team who target drug-related crime and other serious offending, carried out a warrant at the family flat in November 2021. They seized drugs, mobile phones and other related evidence to help develop the long-running investigation. PC Jessie Landers of Operation Expedite, said: 

“Drug use and dealing ruins families and this investigation highlights how different generations of the same family become embroiled in the trade. 

Kirsty and Andrew Burnett are mother and son who have chosen to engage in the sale of drugs. The saying ‘you’d do anything for your children’ is sadly true in this case, with Kirsty taking instructions from Andrew on where to go and who to deal to via text message.

It was clearly a well-planned operation with Kirsty even warning Andrew two days before the warrant: ‘Son, I’m not joking, the undercover drugs squad were watching…we need to lay low’.

During the warrant, evidence was located in the form of drugs, mobile phones, digital scales and deal bags in a box marked with Andrew’s name. Text messages recovered between the pair gave the mother and son no choice but to plead guilty to their crimes.

The area where they live is one of the most deprived in the country where drug addiction is a deep concern.

The actions of the Burnetts were only adding to the misery and despair of the community which will not be tolerated by North Yorkshire Police and our partner agencies.”

Crime Prevention

Reporting information about drug-related crime

The signs of drug dealing can include:

• Increased callers at a property at all times of the day or night.
• Increase in cars pulling up for short periods of time.
• Different accents at a property.
• Anti-social behaviour at a property.
• Not seeing the resident for long periods of time.
• Drug-related rubbish – small plastic bags, syringes.
• Windows covered or curtains closed for long periods.

Anyone with any information about suspected drug-related crime are urged to make a report via the North Yorkshire Police website or by calling 101, select Option 1, and speak to the Force Control Room.

If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or make a report online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Victim Support

Support for drug-related issues

• Drink Drug Hub website drinkdrughub.co.uk
• North Yorkshire Rise – young people’s specialist drug and alcohol service- freephone 08000 14 14 80 (Option 2) –humankindcharity.org.uk/service/nyrise/
• North Yorkshire Horizons- adult specialist drug and alcohol service – freephone 08000 14 14 80 –nyhorizons.org.uk/
• City of York Drug and Alcohol Service – 01904 464 680 – changing-lives.org.uk/services/drug-alcohol/york-drug-alcohol-support-services/
• NHS – https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/drug-addiction-getting-help/
• FRANK helpline and information – https://www.talktofrank.com/