New Programme to Route Out Serious and Organised Crime in Barrowcliff

North Yorkshire Police is working closely with community partners on a new project to tackle serious and organised crime in the Barrowcliff estate in Scarborough.

The force has implemented the Home Office’s Clear, Hold, Build strategy in the area to reclaim and rebuild the neighbourhood and improve the quality of life for residents.

The strategy is part of a national project which every police force in the country is adopting by the end of March 2024.

North Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable - Catherine Clarke - says the initiative is being rolled out around the country in areas that have the highest scores in terms of risk and harm from serious organized crime.

As well as North Yorkshire Police, key partners in the project include North Yorkshire Council and the Community Safety Partnership, the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, and North Yorkshire Horizons Adult Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service.

Also involved is the award-winning Gallows Close Centre in Barrowcliff. Led by a team of local volunteers, they take pride in offering a variety of low-cost activities for all ages and abilities.

They also provide food parcels, energy vouchers and a free café three days per week, along with a range of one-to-one support for those struggling and in need of additional services. They received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in November last year.

The community has named the project ‘Building Barrowcliff Together’

The initial stage is designed to CLEAR out the people who are responsible for crime and misery through relentless pursuit activity.

Assistant Chief Constable Catherine Clarke says the programme will need many local partners to get involved.

The Scarborough Neighbourhood Policing Team, along with colleagues in CID and the Operational Support Unit, are carrying out targeted patrols in the area to tackle concerns from low-level anti-social behaviour to serious crimes such as County Lines drug dealing and robbery.

During January and February 2024, they deployed to Barrowcliff dozens of times to prepare for the Clear, Hold, Build strategy.

They have conducted warrants at a series of addresses linked to drug dealing and seized vehicles for various offences.

On 6 March, they executed three simultaneous drugs warrants on the Barrowcliff estate in Scarborough as part of a 'Day of Action'.

Two houses on Colescliffe Road were searched. At one of the addresses, an 18-year-old local man was issued with a cannabis warning.

At the other, a 39-year old local woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class A drugs and handling stolen goods. A 41-year-old man, from the Leeds area, was also arrested for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

A further three arrest were made at an address on Oxcliff. A 29-year-old man from Scarborough was arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs, and a 29-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, both from Scarborough, were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug and possessing criminal property.

All five people arrested have been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

The police say they will continue to use all available powers and tactics to disrupt and impede the ability of criminals to operate.

Several ‘intensification days’ have also been held where officers have invited residents to give feedback on any problems.

ACC Clarke says receiving information from the community is essential to the success of the program.

The second stage of the initiative is HOLD. This involves interventions, counter-measures and contingency plans to consolidate and stabilise the initial ‘clear phase.

The idea is that this stops the remaining or other organised crime group members from capitalising on the vacuum created by the arrests and outcomes at court.

It further improves community confidence by ensuring spaces remain safe. Visible neighbourhood policing in hotspot areas will provide reassurance to residents that police are still present.

The final stage is BUILD. This forms a single, whole-system approach to delivering community-empowered interventions that tackle the drivers of crime, exploitation of vulnerabilities, and the places where crime occurs.

The aim is to improve living, working and recreational environment in the community for residents. It empowers them to work with stakeholders to generate resilience and build a safer community.

This includes promoting education and training opportunities aimed at diverting young people away from a life of crime.

It also means supporting people with drug and alcohol issues to reduce the risk of harm and improve their life prospects.

The formal launch of the Barrowcliff Clear Hold Build project was staged at Scarborough Rugby Club on Thursday (14 March) with a range of guest speakers and attendees from partner agencies and the local community.

Zoë Metcalfe, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said:

“The Clear, Hold, Build project launching in Scarborough is a great opportunity to help focus on preventing the activity of organised crime and improving community safety and public confidence in the police, which is vital when it comes to reporting intelligence.

“Collaborative working is key to building community resilience. This initiative will help partner agencies to work together to help people be safe and feel safe in Barrowcliff.”

Odette Robson, Head of Community Safety and CCTV, North Yorkshire Council said:

“For Clear, Hold, Build to be effective it depends on the strong partnership arrangements that we have in North Yorkshire, and specifically Scarborough.

North Yorkshire Community Safety Partnership will maintain oversight of the arrangements, to ensure we have positive outcomes for the local communities.”

Kimmie Avison, Chief Executive Officer of the Gallows Close Centre in Barrowcliff, recipients of the King’s Award, said: 

“We are excited to be asked to be a part of the Clear, Hold, Build project which will support the Barrowcliff community and help to make the area a safer environment for all walks of life.

“We hope to build a long and lasting partnership which will allow us to work together in supporting our community.”

Craig Bosomworth, Harm Reduction Strategic Lead, North Yorkshire Horizons & Public Health, said:

“North Yorkshire Horizons is committed to working in partnerships to improve the Barrowcliff community.

“As part of our support package, we will be ensuring residents get the support and guidance they need around alcohol or substance use and can access this quickly and easily.”

Detective Superintendent Andy Farrell, the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Serious and Organised Crime, Local Programme lead, said:

“The national roll-out of Clear, Hold, Build will help empower communities to stand united in the fight against serious and organised crime.

“Areas which have already implemented this initiative have seen successes ranging from dramatic reductions in anti-social behaviour and violent crime to stronger, more enhanced partnerships with key community stakeholders and grass roots organisations.

“Clear, Hold, Build brings this all together.

“Through police-led disruption, key offenders are targeted and removed, allowing the community to come together and have their say on how to move forward.

“While police play a key role in bringing offenders to justice, partnership work and community cooperation are essential to the success of an area reclaiming its identity and moving forward, free from harm, exploitation and the threat of future criminality.”