A WOMAN who 'persistently' wasted police time has been given a five year criminal behaviour order.

North Yorkshire Police secured the order against Susan Cooper, of Ash Tree Road, Bedale, as she has a long history of contacting North Yorkshire Police inappropriately as well as other services including her local GP Surgery.

Working as part of The Safer Hambleton Hub, the force successfully obtained the order after 64-year-old persistently called the force’s Control Room and visited Bedale and Northallerton Police Stations whilst intoxicated and wasted countless officer hours.

She was also found intoxicated in the street on a number of occasions and was aggressive and abusive towards both officers and members of the public who tried to help her.

Subject to a previous Criminal Behaviour Order which ended in April 2018, Cooper has been the subject of over 60 entries on North Yorkshire Police’s system since May 2018 and has failed to engage informally with services available.

One of her conditions bans her from calling or attending any emergency service, NHS Service, GP Practice, Police Station or encourage by her actions or reports anyone else to do so on her behalf except when in genuine need.

PC Julie Woodcock, of North Yorkshire Police’s Safer Hambleton Hub, said: “The Criminal Behaviour Order has been considered very carefully to reduce the number of incidents and in appropriate contact made by Ms Cooper.

“The conditions have been developed to give Ms Cooper some boundaries to keep her safe.

“The positive requirement for Ms Cooper to engage with NY Horizons is the first in North Yorkshire to be granted and will hopefully help to tackle the root cause of her behaviour.”

Gina Allen, Safer Hambleton Hub co-ordinator at Hambleton District Council, said: “We have tried to work with Susan for a number weeks to address her behaviour on a voluntary basis, unfortunately we have not been able to do so , therefore the only action we could take was through the Courts.

“Our Priority is to keep people safe and reduce incidents of harassment, alarm and distress in the community and we will look at all measures to do so.”

Failing to comply with the requirements of a Criminal Behaviour Order is a criminal offence, punishable by a custodial sentence.

Any suspected breaches of an order should be reported to North Yorkshire Police on 101.