Jeremy Gartland

4:00pm - 7:00pm

Email the studio

Paloma Faith

Upside Down

Listen Live Podcasts

Police protect staff and shoppers in the run up to Christmas

Monday, 16 December 2024 09:39

Image from North Yorkshire Police

Undercover officers in Skipton have been carrying out deployments to protect the community during the festive season.

During an operation in the town centre last Thursday, a number of officers in plain clothes patrolled busy shopping areas and carried out targeted stop-and-searches of suspected criminals.

One man was arrested in suspicion of theft after leaving a shop and heading for the bus station.

The suspect, a local man in his 50s, was found with a number of items in his possession and taken into custody.

The deployments were led by Craven Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Craven Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant Mohammed Ikhlaq said:

“We proactively tackle shoplifting all year round and work closely with retailers in Craven to prevent crime.

“Plain clothes operations like these allow us to monitor suspects and use the element of surprise to target offenders before they even see us.

“It’s one of many ways we’re keeping shoppers, businesses and their staff safe as town centres get busier on the run-up to Christmas.”

The force made 819 arrests for retail theft in 2024 – an average of more than 15 a week.

North Yorkshire Police has also recently introduced NICE Investigate - a system that allows retailers to upload CCTV footage directly, which can help speed up investigations and prosecutions.

For more information visit the North Yorkshire Police-Craven Facebook page here.

More from Local news

PureGym opens Its doors in Skipton Town Centre

A 24-hour PureGym has opened in Albion Place. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by local boxing coach and community figure Mark Shaw.
Hospital create pumpkin patch thanks to kind donations

Airedale Hospital Community Charity shared thanks to Tesco for donating pumpkins to the hospital's children's unit.
Skipton’s Sam Ashby’s Big Brother Journey Heats Up

Skipton’s own Sam Ashby has continued to make headlines during this year’s Big Brother series, with viewers recently treated to one of the show’s most dramatic twists yet.
Your Christmas to provide seasonal joy on DAB across North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire is getting its own special Christmas present this year - a radio station playing non-stop festive favourites and a flavour of the best of life at Christmas in the county.
Skipton Choral Society bring back Winter Concert

Skipton Choral Society will host its Winter Concert on Saturday 6 December at Christ Church Skipton, starting at 4pm.
Skipton school's reunion event returns after five-year break

Former pupils of Ermysted’s Grammar School are being invited to attend this year’s Old Boys’ Dinner, which is taking place for the first time since 2019.
Skipton named the happiest place to live in North Yorkshire

The town was ranked highest in the county and placed second overall in a list of 75 locations across the UK.
Duo take on Beamsley Beacon challenge for Sarcoma UK

Two Addingham residents, Rowan Sutcliffe (20) and Ryan Womersley (32), have completed a remarkable challenge to raise money for Sarcoma UK, just months after both received life-changing cancer diagnoses.
£40 million investment proposal to include upgrades to Skipton Leisure Centre

Plans for a £40 million investment to support healthier and more active communities across North Yorkshire are set to be discussed next week, with Skipton among the locations included in the proposals.
Pumpkin Patch and Halloween trail to be held in Skipton

Families in Skipton are being invited to take part in a range of free Halloween-themed activities later this month.
Skipton landmarks light up purple for World Polio Day

Skipton landmarks have been lit up in purple this week to mark World Polio Day and raise awareness of the global effort to eradicate the disease.
Local Christmas tree sale to raise money for Spinal Research

A local Christmas tree sale in Beamsley is once again set to raise funds for the charity Spinal Research.
Guide: Where to celebrate Bonfire night near Skipton

Time for a big bang, and here is where you can find your local firework and bonfire events.
Spectacular Bronze Age find goes on show in Skipton

A nationally significant Bronze Age find has gone on permanent display in Skipton Town Hall, offering a fascinating insight into the lives of people who lived in North Yorkshire more than 4,000 years ago.
Council chiefs call for measures to stop councillor allowances used as 'political football'

Senior councillors have called for members’ allowances to increase automatically to avoid the issue becoming a "political football".
Skipton Together FC kick off season of support for Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice

Skipton Together Football Club has announced a new fundraising partnership with Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, with every match between now and summer 2026 helping to raise money for local hospice care.
Runners in Skipton to raise awareness for women's campaign

The Social Run Club in Skipton is inviting local residents to take part in a special evening run later this month to highlight women’s safety during the darker months.
Northern sees record demand with over 8 million journeys in a month

Northern has recorded its busiest month of customer travel since before the pandemic, with more than 8.1 million journeys made across its network in the past month.
North Yorkshire Police to launch roadside eye test for drivers

North Yorkshire Police are launching Operation Dark Night next week to coincide with the clocks going back and the arrival of darker evenings.
Puregym confirms opening date in Skipton

The nationwide gym previously announced its arrival of the gym to Skipton.