Lockdown boredom "does not justify" antisocial behaviour say Ripon police
Dozens of incidents have been reported to North Yorkshire Police
Last updated 10th Feb 2021
Police in Ripon say they’re clamping down on antisocial behaviour across the city.
Dozens of incidents have been reported – including youths with weapons and elderly people being assaulted.
In the last three weeks, three knives have been found whilst arrests have been carried out by North Yorkshire Police officers.
On Sunday (7 February 2021) a 17-year-old boy was subject to threats of violence from a group of youths. The keys to his moped were stolen and one of the offenders drove away on the vehicle.
A man was robbed at knifepoint at the end of January while walking along Bondgate. The men then followed the victim to his home where they forced him to give them access and stole more items from inside.
Police Inspector Alex Langley of North Yorkshire Police, told Greatest Hits Radio "there is no excuse" for carrying out these attacks.
He said: “There is always a victim and there is always someone having to pick up the pieces which have been left behind. The people carrying out these attacks need to take a long hard look at themselves and think about their conduct and how it is upsetting the community.
"It's completely unacceptable. There is no excuse to carry a weapon or commit a crime. I understand some of these youths may be bored during the lockdown but that doesn't justify coming out and disrupting the communities of Ripon.
“We would also ask parents of teenagers to pass on any information you think could assist. Do you know where your child was yesterday evening? Were they out in Ripon? Were they part of a bigger group? Do your children know anything?
“The information provided by the public is key to helping us target our patrols, identify those responsible and prevent this criminal activity in the future."
Councillors in Ripon are set to hold an “urgent” meeting with the county’s police boss over increasing reports of anti-social behaviour including members of the public being spat at and pets being kicked.
Ripon City Council will meet with North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan soon to discuss how to tackle the problem which is being blamed on “a small group of yobs”.