Police say Harrogate town centre ‘is safe’ despite highest anti-social behaviour rate in county

Chief inspector Alex Langley told a council meeting on Monday that the town centre is the “busiest” ward for North Yorkshire Police, but added the area’s crime figures are considered relatively low when taken in context of the large population.

He explained there have been a total of 243 anti-social behaviour incidents in the area across 12 months, adding: “That is less than 0.6 incidents a day.”

“When you look at the amount of people and potential issues, I think it is actually quite a reassuring number and that it really is a safe place to be,” he said.

Chief inspector Langley also said the entire Harrogate district had seen a “steady reduction” in all crimes over a one-year period, including a “phenomenally low” robbery rate with an average of one incident reported every two months.

Man arrested after stabbing in Harrogate

However, he was warned by councillors that crime was becoming an increasing concern in certain areas and that the force may be unaware of hotspots because of residents’ reluctance to report incidents.

This includes Harrogate’s Bower Street which was highlighted by councillor Chris Aldred who said anti-social behaviour “does seem to be getting worse” in the area with regular complaints of “rowdy” individuals drinking from 9am.

On Friday (October 14), a man was reportedly stabbed in a fight on Bower Street and a 23-year-old man from Harrogate has since been charged with assault on a person occasioning actual bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and wounding with intent.

The area outside Harrogate’s McDonald’s restaurant on Cambridge Road has also been flagged as a concern after two community support officers were allegedly assaulted by two teenage girls on April 1 this year.

A 13 year-old and 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have since been charged and will appear in court on October 28.

The latest cases to be heard at Harrogate Magistrates Court between September 29 and October 7

Chief inspector Langley said his officers were “well aware” of problems in the two areas as he also stressed the importance of people reporting incidents.

He added that the two officers allegedly assaulted outside McDonald’s were “still suffering and injured” from the “nasty assault,” and that a problem solving plan was being made for Bower Street which is just over 300 metres away.

“We are alive to this and trying to use all the powers that we have got, but again if we don’t get the reports we will struggle,” he told Monday’s meeting of Harrogate Borough Council’s overview and scrutiny commission.

“My plea is that if there is a problem, tell us about it.”