Call to reinstate cells in police stations

CUSTODY CELLS should be reinstated in North Yorkshire police stations to help authorities manage a wave of antisocial behaviour engulfing public areas as lockdown restrictions are eased, councillors have claimed.

The call comes amid concerns over the length of time it takes officers across the north of North Yorkshire to travel with those arrested to custody suites in Harrogate and Scarborough, due to the closure of cells in Richmond and Northallerton. Councillors have claimed as a result each arrest can take four hours, creating a deterrent to law enforcement.

They said despite police, military police and council resources being poured into managing crowds gathering last weekend at Richmond – particularly at the waterfalls – those trying to manage social distancing guidelines were overwhelmed.

Calling for custody cells to be reopened in Richmond as an emergency measure, Councillor Clive World said: “We need urgent action.

“It is absolutely dreadful that the nearest custody cells are an hour away in Harrogate, and if Harrogate is full then our police have to go to Scarborough, which is a day-out.

“We haven’t got so many police officers that we can afford to have them travelling up and down the A1 rather than being on the beat.”

Fellow Richmond councillors Phillip Wicks and Stuart Parsons said the thought of travelling to Harrogate “undoubtedly puts a question in officers’ minds when it comes to arresting somebody”.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan said she understood that there is real concern, but that the custody suite at Richmond did not meet modern safety standards and would not be a safe environment for officers.