Pickering News
Operation 'Rogue Trader'
Bogus traders and door-step criminals in North Yorkshire and the City of York are being targeted today (Wednesday 11 July) by a joint trading standards and police operation.
North Yorkshire Police say that Operation Rogue Trader demonstrates North Yorkshire Police's commitment to root out offenders in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council Trading Standards Service and the City of York Council.
The targets range from utility company representatives, builders and roofers to window fitters and gardeners. Includes those who deliberately overcharge for unsatisfactory or unnecessary services, damage property in order to obtain money, leave work unfinished, intimidate customers to extort money, and even exchange information with distraction burglars.
The joint objectives of Operation Rogue Trader are:
* The delivery of a strong enforcement message to potential suspects coupled with a robust prosecution of offenders.
* Develop intelligence on known suspects and identify intelligence gaps.
* Raise public awareness of door-step crime and provide reassurance to reduce the fear of crime.
* Promote partnership working.
* Raise awareness of doorstep crime and its impact on the victims among the respective agencies involved.
Cllr Helen Swiers, Executive Member at North Yorkshire County Council, said: "We are committed to effectively tackling doorstep crime across the county. Rogue traders should be aware that we will use all available methods to prevent our vulnerable consumers from being ripped off in this way and to ensure criminals don't offend in North Yorkshire."
Acting Chief Inspector Stuart Mackleston, of North Yorkshire Police's Community Safety Department, said: "From a policing point of view, this operation is all about deterring criminal activity and gathering intelligence about people who commit doorstep crime.
"These people often prey on the elderly and vulnerable in our communities, and we want to send a clear message that we are determined to work together with trading standards to drive these criminals out of our county."
The operation, which covers the York, Northallerton, Malton and Scarborough areas, is also supported by officers from the Department of Work and Pensions.
Advice
IF YOU'RE NOT SURE, DON'T OPEN THE DOOR and DO NOT DEAL WITH DOORSTEP TRADERS.
Anyone who has concerns about a caller should ask them to post a business card or official identification through the letter box and then telephone the company or organisation to check their identity.
If you are still not happy, contact North Yorkshire Police on 0845 60 60 24 7, or dial 999 if they refuse to leave the premises and you feel threatened.
For further advice about Doorstep Selling issues or to report cold-callers, contact North Yorkshire Trading Standards Service's advice line, Consumer Direct, on 08454 040506.
Article: 11-07-2007
Wildlife killing fields of North Yorkshire are becoming a national scandal
Multi agency efforts have been stepped up to prevent England’s rarest bird of prey the hen harrier, from becoming extinct as a breeding bird in the uplands of North Yorkshire.
The move follows the worrying disappearance (two weeks ago) of the only known breeding pair of hen harriers on moorland in the Yorkshire Dales.
The nesting site had been monitored by Natural England and Yorkshire Dales Upland Bird Study Group volunteers since mid March, they raised the alarm when neither bird could be found.
An investigation is being carried out by PC Mark Rasbeary (a Wildlife Crime Officer from North Yorkshire Police) and Steve Downing from the National Wildlife Crime Unit based in Scotland.
They spent a full afternoon searching the moorland for signs of the birds on Monday 23 April, but all they found was the abandoned nest with five eggs inside.
“It is extremely rare for a female hen harrier to abandon her nest when she is sat on eggs because the male will provide her with food.” said PC Rasbeary. “The only logical explanation is that the birds have been deliberately disturbed and driven away from the nest. Or even worse, they have been killed.”
PC Rasbeary said North Yorkshire Police treats this offence extremely seriously and said action will be taken against those who break the law. He also urged people with information or evidence to help catch any suspected offenders to contact the police immediately so they can be brought to justice.
“We simply cannot sit back while this senseless persecution against hen harriers appears to be happening," he said: “If something isn’t done soon, North Yorkshire is in danger of becoming labeled as the ‘killing fields’ for hen harriers and other raptors. To lose these magnificent birds of prey forever would be a conservation disaster for our area.”
Steve Downing, who recovered the five eggs from the heather nest, is the national coordinator of 'Operation Artemis'. The police campaign set up in 2004 to combat the illegal killing of hen harriers.
He said: “This area of the Yorkshire Dales is perfect habitat for a wide range of birds of prey, particularly hen harriers. Unfortunately, historical data indicates that persecution is also widespread. Hen harriers in England are hanging on by a thread. This failure, coupled with another failure in Northumbria last year when eggs were taken from a site after the female was shot, represents 20 per cent of this year’s known nests."
“It is a national scandal that persecution continues in the 21st century. The eggs I recovered have been delivered to the scientists undertaking research to identify hen harrier DNA in our efforts to use forensic science to aid our investigations. I look forward to the day when those involved in the persecution of hen harriers are put in gaol, where they clearly belong.”
Paul Irving, Chairman of the Yorkshire Dales Upland Bird Study Group, said: “It is extremely disappointing that this nest has failed apparently due to persecution. The area, however, has a long history of such events and so this was perhaps to be expected."
“However, with such a low national population, it seems extraordinary and totally unforgivable that what is an extremely rare bird should be targeted in this way. One can only hope that the culprit or culprits are caught before we lose this spectacular bird entirely from the Dales.”
In a joint statement, Paul Burgess, Chief Officer of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and Ian Court, Species Officer for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said: “We are very concerned to hear about the disappearance of this pair of hen harriers that had been nesting close to the boundary between the National Park and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and we hope the police will be able to find out exactly what has happened to them."
“Conserving wildlife is both one of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s main purposes, and one of the foundations of AONB designation. The hen harrier is one of the highest priorities for conservation action across the two areas."
“It would be a sad day for the Dales and everyone who cares about them if it is proved, as the police and RSPB suspect, that these birds have disappeared as a result of illegal activity."
“We will do everything we can to help the police in their inquiries”
Peter Robertson, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (Northern England Conservation Manager) said: "The RSPB is very concerned that this pair of hen harriers nesting in the Dales have disappeared. It is extremely unusual for nesting harriers at such an advanced stage of incubating eggs to abandon their nest, and we would very much like to know what has happened to these birds."
“We urge the police to investigate this matter as fully as possible so that we can find out what has happened to these rare birds."
"Regrettably, this is just the latest in a long line of incidents that have affected hen harriers in the Yorkshire Dales. Sadly, in recent years, other harriers have also disappeared in mysterious, unexplained circumstances in this area and many of these incidents bear the hallmarks of illegal human activity."
"If human interference is shown to be responsible for the disappearance of these birds then it will be nothing short of a national disgrace and one that tarnishes the reputation of the Dales as a haven for wildlife. Illegal persecution of birds of prey not only shows a complete disregard for the law, but also an utter contempt for wildlife."
"The RSPB spends a lot of time and effort in trying to combat illegal killing of hen harriers and other birds of prey in Northern England. Every harrier nest is a vital and precious resource for producing the young birds which could lead to the establishment of a regular breeding population in the Yorkshire Dales by this charismatic species."
Anybody with information or evidence to help catch suspected offenders should contact PC Mark Rasbeary, Wildlife Crime Officer, via 0845 60 60 24 7.
Report: 02-05-2007
Popular eco-working holiday back for third year
Holiday-makers looking for a break with a difference should head to the North York Moors National Park this summer where the ultimate in green getaways is on offer. Staying in the country’s first eco-friendly hostel (the YHA hostel in Lockton), participants will join rangers and volunteers on essential tasks to improve visitor access to the National Park. In addition to making a lasting contribution to the local countryside, the holiday also offers the chance to learn some different skills, meet new friends and most importantly, have fun.
The ‘eco-volunteers’ will be working in two locations in the National Park, both of which lie on Alfred Wainwright’s well-trodden 190 mile Coast to Coast Walk. The first task is in the small rural community of Sneaton and the second is right in the heart of the Moors at the enchanting Arncliffe Woods in Glaisdale. The volunteers won’t be short of things to do in the evenings either with a range of social activities and wildlife watches planned, as well as a full day’s excursion around the Park.
Sally Ann Smith, Events and Exhibitions Co-ordinator at the North York Moors National Park Authority, said: “Our eco-working holiday is an enjoyable and incredibly rewarding experience. Not only do participants get to soak up the spectacular scenery and rich cultural heritage of the National Park, but they can also feel proud to have made a positive contribution to preserving the Moors for future generations to enjoy. We’ve had some fantastic feedback from previous eco-volunteers and some people have already booked for this year’s holiday.”
Graham Stubbs, Volunteers Officer at the Authority, added: “There is a lot of emphasis at the moment on individuals taking responsibility for reducing their own carbon footprint and as a result, more and more people are looking for an alternative to jetting off to exotic locations. On our eco-working holiday, participants are encouraged to travel to York by train where they will be picked up in our low emission, bio-diesel minibus. We also try to source all the food we use locally to keep ‘food miles’ to a minimum.”
This is the third year that the National Park Authority has run the eco-working holiday. In previous years, the eco-volunteers built a boardwalk and carried out vital maintenance to the footpath and steps in Little Beck Wood and installed steps along a badly-eroded hillside above Goathland Train Station.
The seven-night holiday runs from 17 to 24 August 2007 and is open to everyone aged 18 and over who is reasonably fit and active. It costs £195 per person, which includes transport to and from York railway station, accommodation and food (kitchen duties are shared out amongst the group). Accommodation is at the YHA’s youth hostel in Lockton which has been booked solely for the eco-holiday group. The hostel boasts 26 eco-features including a water harvesting system, compost toilet and solar panels and was the first eco-friendly hostel in England and Wales when it opened in March 2005.
To find out more, contact Sally Ann Smith on 01439 770657 or email s.smith@northyorkmoors-npa.gov.uk
Article: 16th April 2007
Fly Tipping On The Increase
A large amount of rubbish has been illegally dumped in several locations around the North York Moors National Park in the last few days, some right at the edge of the beck at Ellerbeck on the A169. The National Park Authority is appealing for anyone with information on who may have dumped the rubbish to get in touch so that appropriate action can be taken.
The fly-tipping, which includes a garden seat, an old fridge and a large amount of timber, was dumped at four different locations - at Saltergate car park, Ellerbeck, Levisham and at Newgate back car park. The Environment Agency has been informed about the tipping at Ellerbeck in case there are any environmental implications from rubbish entering the beck.
Jay Marrison, Ranger for the Southern Area of the National Park, said: “This is appalling behaviour. Not only have the perpetrators created an eyesore in some beautiful areas of the Park, but they may also be endangering human health and harming wildlife. Fly-tipping is unfortunately a problem we come across from time to time in the Park but it has been a while since we’ve had something on this scale. "
“Fly-tipping costs the Authority and landowners considerably, as not only does it take time to clear up but it also costs money to dispose of the rubbish at a civic amenity site, so if anyone does have any information, I would urge them to let us know.”
Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste and is a criminal offence that can incur fines of several thousand pounds or even a prison sentence. The National Park Authority takes this problem very seriously and will seek to take appropriate action against anyone caught fly-tipping.
Article: 21-03-2007
Archbishop of York Steams Into Pickering
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The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, was getting to know the Deanery of Pickering today. The Deanery of Pickering is the group of parishes including the town itself, and villages from Sinnington in the west to Hutton Buscel in the east, and from Levisham in the north to Marishes in the south. This is Dr Sentamu's 19th visit in a programme taking him to each of the 24 Deaneries of the Diocese of York in 2006 and early 2007. The Diocese of York is the Church of England from the Yorkshire coast westwards to the A1 and from the River Tees to the River Humber.
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The Archbishop spent the morning meeting with local clergy to learn about their parishes and the opportunities and challenges they present. In the afternoon he made a series of local visits accompanied by the Rural Dean of Pickering (the senior Vicar in the Deanery), the Reverend Paul Mothersdale and Canon Francis Hewitt.
At Wykeham Church of England Primary School he was welcomed by Headteacher Susan Clothier and answered question prepared by the children.
Arriving at the Forestry Commission's Dalby Forest Visitor Centre to be greeted by District Forester (Recreation and Environment) Paul Cody. He was shown the new Courtyard development which houses a number of small, craft-based businesses and met some of the owners. He also inspected the new Visitors' Centre which is due to open in spring 2007, which has been built to incorporate the latest developments in ecologically sustainable construction.
Arriving at Pickering Station, terminus of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway which operates steam trains through the North York Moors National Park and is a major feature of the local economy. He met staff and volunteers before taking a trip on the 4.15pm train to Goathland, enjoying the scenic ride and meeting passengers also taking the journey.
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At 7.00pm Dr Sentamu attended an open meeting for church members and the general public at Lady Lumley's School. Following a short act of worship, Archbishop Sentamu spoke to the meeting and then answered questions form the floor. Dealing with questions about the ordination of women Bishops and Gay clergy, he referred to the New Testament which he held up stating, there is no mention of such things in here, he made clear that in his mind a persons sex or sexuality had no importance. He delighted his audience / congregation with humorous stories of his childhood. The packed assembly at Lady Lumbley's was delighted. One woman from the audience invited him to a fund raising event, which he tactfully declined.
Dr Sentamu in a press release said, "The beauty of God’s creation is on full display in this deanery. Tourism has really become a substantial business here with a lot of creative thought and energy. Thank God for the landscape that brings visitors here and for the people who care for it; living here through thick and thin in the midst of the wonder of creation. There are some substantial challenges to the local economy and way of life, but the people here are innovative and resourceful.
Article published: 10-10-2006