Preventative Police Patrols Keeping Scarborough’s Night-Time Economy Safe

North Yorkshire Police is deploying a specialist team of officers in Scarborough’s night-time economy to help prevent sexual offences and keep people safe.

Following on from the success with similar deployments in York, the force has mirrored the national “Project Vigilant” operation in Scarborough town centre for the last twelve months. The operation was launched by Thames Valley Police in 2019 to seek out those who prey on vulnerable people in busy locations at night.

As part of its commitment to the project, North Yorkshire Police is deploying officers from various teams who are specially trained to identify the tell-tale signs that identify an individual who is in the area with a criminal intention.

Plain clothed officers patrol designated areas and flag any person of concern to uniformed officers. The uniformed officers then move in to engage and where appropriate they will also take positive action.

Area commander for Scarborough and Ryedale,  Superintendent Rachel Wood says the operation provides reassurance to people enjoying the towns night time economy.

Project Vigilant officers also seek to ensure that vulnerable people in the night-time economy are kept safe, reuniting them with friends if they become separated or referring them to partner agencies such as the Street Angels or the Yorkshire Ambulance Service if there is a medical concern.

The team of officers will also engage with vulnerable people to offer advice about keeping themselves safe and ensuring that they have a suitable way of returning home at the end of the night. The operation also increases engagement with licensed premises, including bars and clubs as officers build relationships with officers and door staff.

Uniformed and plain clothed officers were out in Scarborough on Saturday night, Superintendent Wood says they had good interactions with members of the public.

The area commander says having teh mix of both uniformed and plain clothed officers works well.

Superintendent Rachel Wood added: 

“Violence Against Women and Girls is a priority for the force and I’m proud to say that for the last twelve months we have dedicated patrols to stamp out predatory behaviour in Scarborough’s night time economy.

“These patrols are set to continue as we are determined to do the very best for girls, women and the communities that we serve. But everyone has a vital role to play and what we ask is simple. Stay alert and trust your instincts.

“If you see something that doesn’t feel right, tell a member of staff or a police officer. However insignificant you think something may be, please report it, because your actions could potentially save lives.”

North Yorkshire Police say there have been a number of direct results from Project Vigilant in Scarborough

• Arrests: 23
• Stop/Search: 9
• Dispersals: 9
• People taken to a place of safety: 49
• Conversations to resolve incident: 68

On previous patrols Op Vigilant officers encounter two women who raise concerns about a man. Officers sighted the man, but he ran from them, following a short foot chase he was then detained. A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of been drunk and disorderly. He was charged and later pleaded guilty at court, resulting in fines, costs and surcharges totalling £317.

In another incident Project Vigilant officers encountered a man who was displaying predatory behaviours whilst loitering down an alleyway. He refused to provide details about who he was to officers and was arrested. Subsequent identity checks highlighted the suspect was arrested on a previous occasion for a sexual assault on woman. Although he was later released, this highlighted his profile to all officers and possibly provided a significant disruption to any activity the which he may have had planned.

On another occasion a 36-year-old dropped his trousers and exposed himself whist intoxicated in Scarborough town centre. He was arrested on suspicion of outraging public decency. The suspect was given a community remedy, meaning that he is required to attend a programme to address his behaviours.

North Yorkshire Police say that Operation Vigilant will continue in Scarborough over the coming months and Superintendent Wood says it could be expanded to other coastal towns.

"At the moment, we concentrate mostly in Scarborough as a coastal town because that's where the vast majority of the night time economy is. But that's not to say that we couldn't run it in other areas if we felt that there was an operational need to"