Two fined in York for breaking coronavirus rules this weekend – but the real problems were on the coast and in the countryside

Fifty-two people were fined for breaching coronavirus regulations by North Yorkshire Police during the bank holiday weekend – including two in York.

Following a series of incidents in the hot weather, North Yorkshire’s Local Resilience Forum is now urging day trippers to park responsibly, take their litter home and respect local communities.

Of the 52 coronavirus fines, 39 were issued in the Scarborough area, four in Harrogate, four in Selby, two in York, two in Craven and one in Hambleton.

Of these

• 35 were issued for breach of gathering restrictions
• 13 for breach of movement restrictions, and
• four for contravening a direction.

Breaches of the regulations include overnight stays in motorhomes, door-to-door selling, and groups of people from different households drinking in public areas.

Man stuck on a cliff

In one incident on Saturday (23 May), the police, fire and rescue service, ambulance service and the coastguard, were all called to the scene of an incident in Scarborough when a man became stuck on a cliff near the castle.

The man had been drinking with a group of friends and climbed up the cliff before becoming stuck. Firefighters used a harness to rescue him uninjured.

In another incident in Scarborough, a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and assaulting a police officer after a youth was seen jumping on top of a police vehicle. He has been released while enquiries continue.

Elsewhere police and council officers were called to the Sheep-wash and Cod Beck area at Osmotherley yesterday (Monday) where the road had became impassable due to the number of parked vehicles.

Officers found 50 cars double-parked along the road, blocking the path of emergency service vehicles. Most had travelled from the Cleveland area.

Police issued 30 traffic tickets.

Don’t take risks

Superintendent Charlotte Bloxham, silver commander for the police response to Covid-19, said the disease is still out there.

“We will continue to engage and explain the current regulations, and encourage you to follow them, but as this weekend has shown, we are not afraid to use the legislation if we have to.

“We ask that visitors respect local communities, have an alternative plan and move on if their favourite place is busy, especially if car parks are full.

“And importantly, please don’t take any unnecessary risks and put yourself, or anyone else in danger.”