logo
New fire and police station replaces 'dated' base

New fire and police station replaces 'dated' base

Yahoo04-03-2025
A police and fire station in North Yorkshire has officially reopened after a major refurbishment.
The two services made a joint investment of nearly £1m to modernise the "out-of-date" facility in Ripon.
The upgrade included spaces to interview victims of crime, a place for the public to speak to police officers and a modernised workspace for staff.
David Skaith, Labour Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, cut the ribbon at an opening ceremony on Monday.
Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police, Tim Forber, said the "first class" facilities on Stonebridgegate were part of continued efforts to boost its neighbourhood policing service.
"The police station in Ripon closed a number of years ago and we'd had a joint building with our fire service colleagues, but it was out of date and in very poor condition," he said.
"It was not a fit place for the public to come, particularly if they were a victim of crime, and absolutely not a place where my officers were properly looked after."
Jonathan Dyson, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service's chief fire officer, said the project had been more than a year in the making.
"We hit one massive snag, which was that we found more extensive asbestos in the building than we anticipated," he said.
"It delayed things a little bit but it was right that we did it and it's credit to the teams and our support staff."
Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
North Yorkshire Police
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Britain hopes a crackdown on people-smugglers' social media ads will help curb Channel crossings
Britain hopes a crackdown on people-smugglers' social media ads will help curb Channel crossings

Associated Press

time9 hours ago

  • Associated Press

Britain hopes a crackdown on people-smugglers' social media ads will help curb Channel crossings

LONDON (AP) — Britain says people who advertise fake passports or people-smuggling services on social medial could face up to five years in prison, in the government's latest effort to deter migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats. The government said Sunday that anyone convicted of creating online materials intended to break U.K. immigration law will face prison time and a large fine. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the aim was to stop the 'brazen tactics on social media' used by smuggling gangs. 'Selling the false promise of a safe journey to the U.K. and a life in this country — whether on or offline — simply to make money, is nothing short of immoral,' she said. Assisting illegal immigration to the U.K. is already a crime, but officials believe a new offense — part of a border security bill currently going through Parliament — will give police and prosecutors more powers to disrupt gangs that send migrants on perilous journeys across one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the crime gangs are a threat to global security and should be treated like terror networks. Since taking office a year ago, Starmer's center-left Labour Party government has adopted powers to seize the assets of people-smugglers, beefed up U.K. border surveillance and increased law-enforcement cooperation with France and other countries to disrupt the journeys. Despite that, more than 25,000 people have reached Britain by boat so far this year, an increase of 50% on the same period in 2024. Small boat crossings have become a potent political issue, fueled by pictures of smugglers piling migrants into overcrowded, leaky inflatable boats on the French coast. Opposition parties say the government's plans aren't working — though the government argues the problems built up during 14 years when the Conservative Party was in power, The Conservatives say Starmer should not have scrapped the previous government's contentious and expensive plan to send migrants arriving by boat on a one-way trip to Rwanda. 'This is a panicked attempt to look tough after months of doing nothing,' Conservative immigration spokesman Chris Philp said. The government says it will take time to clear a backlog of applications that has left thousands of migrants stuck in temporary accommodation — often hotels — without the right to work. The hotels have become flashpoints for tension, attracting protests fueled by a mix of local concern, misinformation and anti-immigrant agitation.

UK threatens jail for people smugglers who advertise on social media
UK threatens jail for people smugglers who advertise on social media

Yahoo

time10 hours ago

  • Yahoo

UK threatens jail for people smugglers who advertise on social media

LONDON (Reuters) -People smugglers who use social media to promote their services to migrants seeking to enter Britain illegally could face five years in prison under plans announced by the government. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government is under huge political and public pressure to cut the number of migrants arriving illegally in small boats from France. More than 25,000 people have made the crossing so far this year. Analysis by the Interior Ministry showed around 80% of migrants arriving on small boats had used social media during their journey to find or communicate with people smugglers. Under a new offence, which will be added to legislation already passing through parliament, individuals who post online to advertise services that facilitate a breach of immigration laws will face fines and prison sentences of up to five years. It is already an offence to facilitate illegal immigration to Britain, but the government said its latest plan would give law enforcement agencies another option to disrupt the criminal gangs that profit from organising the crossings. Last month, the government launched a new sanctions regime allowing it to freeze assets, impose travel bans and block access to the country's financial system for individuals and entities involved in enabling irregular migration.

Multiple fires in one area of York suburb overnight
Multiple fires in one area of York suburb overnight

Yahoo

time12 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Multiple fires in one area of York suburb overnight

Firefighters have put out 'multiple' fires in one York suburb. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Acomb responded to multiple reports of smoke in the area of Green Lane in Clifton, around 9pm last night (August 2). Recommended reading: 18-month sentence for man after crash which left Pickering woman requiring amputation Woman's body found below cliffs near North Yorkshire coastal town Arrest after man dies following crash with lorry on main road out of York A service spokesperson said: "These were caused by multiple fires on one site. "Crews used one hose reel jet to extinguish the seat of the fire."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store