YORK has had the highest number of burglaries in North Yorkshire this year – but the 551 recorded is a 10.8 per cent drop from 2017.

Harrogate has experienced the largest rise in burglary this year, according to latest police statistics.

Figures presented at the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime public accountability meeting on November 27 show that Harrogate has experienced a 34.8 per cent rise in burglary.

Between April and October, 523 burglary incidents have been recorded, compared to 388 in that time last year. Scarborough saw a 30.5 per cent rise, from 259 to 338, and Ryedale was up 21 per cent, 81 to 98.

The biggest declines were in Richmondshire (down 40.8 per cent) and Selby (33.3 per cent).

North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan said earlier this month that a change in how burglaries were recorded attributed to some of the rise. However, she said the rise couldn’t wholly be attributed to that.

“Some of it is a genuine rise in burglaries… it particularly concerns me because it is the thing that is the single most concern to members of the public,” she said.

The update also shows that Low Harrogate was the most crime-impacted ward out of Harrogate, Craven, Hambleton and Richmondshire in October, with 121 crimes reported.

Northallerton was the next highest with 48.

The report also reveals a spike in calls to police services on Halloween, with 50 more emergency 999 calls than they usually received on a Wednesday between 4pm and midnight, as well as an additional 70 extra non-emergency calls.