Cost of policing protests in Kirby Misperton – 15 December 2017

As part of her commitment to openness and transparency, Julia will publish the additional cost of policing the site in Ryedale, every month, as soon as the figures are available.

The additional costs of the policing operation have amounted to:

• £80,238 up to 31 August 2017
• £101,476 in September 2017
• £233,704 in October 2017
• £147,881 in November 2017—down 36 per cent compared with October

These figures include overtime, mutual aid, equipment, subsistence, travel-related costs etc. It does not include the cost of those officers that are assigned to policing the site on a day-to-day basis.

On many days in November, the majority of police officers due to attend Kirby Misperton were redeployed to policing duties elsewhere, due to the largely safe and peaceful nature of protest activity.

Julia said: “For a number of reasons, the costs incurred during November are lower than October, and as the operation continues I will be keeping a close eye on the total bill. As I’ve said before, North Yorkshire Police has the necessary contingencies in place to deal with events such as this in the short term, but I have already written to the Government in anticipation of costs going beyond one per cent (or £1.4m) of our total budget, after which we can apply for financial assistance.

“I am also keen that policing more widely carries on as usual, especially over the busy Christmas period. After getting out and about with officers in the Kirby Misperton area and elsewhere earlier this month, I know people are working hard to ensure this happens. I am also keen to hear about any potential impact on members of the public, so please do contact me with your views.”

There were a total of eight arrests connected to protest activity at Kirby Misperton in November. There were 40 arrests in October, and 26 in September.

Superintendent Alisdair Dey, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “We are balancing the needs and wishes of everyone at Kirby Misperton—including people assembling and protesting peacefully, businesses carrying out their lawful activity, and local residents going about their daily lives safely and without disruption.

“We respond proportionately to any protest activity—so that means when it is peaceful and safe, we can reduce the number of officers at Kirby Misperton, and redeploy them to policing duties elsewhere in North Yorkshire, as we have done throughout November.”

The policing operation in Kirby Misperton will remain a standing item on the Public Accountability Meeting agenda until further notice, which can be viewed live or following the meeting at https://www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/police-oversight/governance/governanceprocess/corporate-scrutiny-board/