POLICE Chiefs in North Yorkshire have vowed to continue supporting community events that are “part and parcel” of local life after fears were raised that added costs could force some events out of existence.

Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell says he has been working with North Yorkshire Police Authority to find a balance between working within the law, supporting local community events and the need to work within existing resources and budgets.

Under the current policy, police charges will be levied on around 19 of the 850 events supported each year by the force of which only 5 are community-linked events.

We face a difficult balancing act concerning events that may well be for good causes but which place a large financial burden on public funds

Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell - North Yorkshire Police

The force now will look again at these events where organisers or local councils have raised concerns and work with partners towards issuing a clear guide outlining the rare occasions when charging for deployment of additional officers is appropriate.

The Force and Authority will also be talking to partners, especially local councils, about how all agencies might work together better to support local event organisers.

“Community and fundraising events are an essential part of North Yorkshire life. They are part of the fabric that binds communities together. The police support organisers to run many such events every year without charge and long may that continue,” said Coun Jane Kenyon, Chairman of the Police Authority.

“But clearly we cannot subsidise commercial events and it is right that when such events incur additional policing costs it is the organisers, not the public, who should foot the bill.

“A current grey area involves large community events that require traffic management and policing above that provided by Safer Neighbourhood teams.

“In such cases we have to balance our desire to help our communities against our responsibility to safeguard the public purse. In addition we have to work within the law and national Government guidelines.

“National legislation changes appear to have led to some confusion amongst some councils as to what the police role is.

“The Police do not have responsibility for traffic management issues or road closures. The Highways Authority has responsibility for these matters and on whether any charge should be levied. This is national legislation and not something unique to North Yorkshire.”

Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell said: “We are committed to doing all we can to help our local communities and in parts of the force area a guide has already been produced with partners.

“My officers have been talking to event organisers, especially in the Harrogate area, and all this year’s community events will be supported to the extent necessary so that they can go ahead safely.

“We have listened to the concerns people have and will take them on board in drawing up a clear force-wide policy. We hope this will assist event organisers and clear up any confusion.

“In the majority of cases we support smaller community events by providing a policing presence through our Safer Neighbourhoods Teams. These teams are at the heart of our communities. They patrol neighbourhoods and community events as a core part of their policing duties and respond to any incidents that may arise.

“We also often provide additional police resources at a reduced or zero charge to many charitable or community events.

“We face a difficult balancing act concerning events that may well be for good causes but which place a large financial burden on public funds. In these cases we have to weigh up all the factors before deciding whether a charge is appropriate. “It must be stressed that only a tiny proportion of the events we police have attracted charges in the past and that will continue to be the case.

“Following feedback from the community we will look again at the charging policy for these events to ensure fairness.”