Harrogate police chief 'sorry' for response to Stray lockdown party where hundreds gathered and left mounds of litter

North Yorkshire Police's Detective Superintendent Steve Thomas told councillors he was "really sorry" that officers did not intervene earlier at the mass gathering on 20 June which resulted in complaints from residents and litter left at the parkland.

The rubbish left on the ground included alcohol bottles and drug paraphernalia - namely laughing gas canisters - which prompted health warnings from police and anti-litter action from Harrogate Borough Council.

"We didn't get it 100 per cent right", said Det Supt Steve Thomas at a meeting of the council's overview and scrutiny committee.

"I am really sorry that we weren't able to get to grips with it in time for it not to affect the people who reported it to us.

"I was working on the evening that it happened and as soon as we were aware we had deployed through the force control room additional resources.

"Unfortunately once you get a gathering of that size it is a question of trying to engage as best as possible.

"I am not saying we got that entirely right and we certainly learnt from it."

Protest at Harrogate Hospital for NHS 72nd anniversary

Pictures taken on the Sunday morning showed the parkland strewn with laughing gas (nitrous oxide) canisters and balloons, which Det Supt Steve Thomas warned has "significant health implications".

"There is a real health issue with it", he said. "I think it is seen as something that is okay to do and you're not going to get into trouble, but it has some real significant health implications, particularly if they are mixing it with alcohol or any other drugs."

The images of rubbish scattered in visitors' wakes also sparked outrage by residents, some of whom took matters into their own hands by organising litter picks.

It also saw Harrogate Borough Council install more bins, double waste collections and deploy staff seven days a week to tackle widespread waste which continued to appear throughout last month's warm weather.

New testing data reveals Harrogate has had more than twice as many coronavirus cases as reported

Coun John Mann told the meeting he believed the mass gathering was made up of local students who had just finished their summer term.

Det Supt Steve Thomas added: "It was at the height of the unseasonably warm weather and you're quite right, it was coinciding with when a number of the school children who would have either finalised their GSCEs or their A-Levels.

"Unfortunately I think some of their behaviour went beyond what anyone would want to see.

"We are hopeful we won't end up with scenes like that again."

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter

With the Government announcement that estate agents can reopen and the immediate surge in public interest in the housing market, we are here to support your business needs.

Find out how to re-establish your brand within our products in print, online and across social media by contacting:

Tracey Ball

Sales Manager

[email protected]

Tel: 07803 506167

Liz Edmondson

Group Sales Director (Property and Motors)

[email protected]

Tel: 07801 195801