POLICE have defended their withdrawal from helping Richmond's Whit fair move into the Market Place.

The town council was concerned that officers would no longer man barriers and stop traffic while the rides were shipped in at the end of May.

Members feared that the fairground would not be able to come to the Market Place without police help and successive searches in previous years had identified no other suitable site in the town.

There was anger at Monday night's council meeting that, while residents faced a 76pc rise in the police authority precept in the coming year, the community would have to do without police help at events.

Members felt town hall staff were not equipped and trained to enforce road closure orders, man barriers and direct fairground vehicles.

Following the meeting, town centre Sgt Mick Griffiths said that, while police had for many years erected barriers and halted traffic for the event, the force had no legal duty or remit for such work.

In neighbouring towns such as Northallerton and Stokesley, police had not helped with the setting up of similar events.

Richmond organisations such as the town council, Meet committee and organisers of the Remembrance Day and Comrades' parades had, in fact, been receiving help that was unwarranted and, in some cases, not legal.

"When this came to light two years ago I contacted every organisation in the town," said Sgt Griffiths. "They were given more than adequate notice along with help and advice to resolve any issues. Every organisation had no problem with this, apart from the town council.

"For years, we had assisted the fair to set up. That is not a police role. It is against the law for us to close roads while the fair sets up. The town council needs to apply for a road closure order, which costs nothing, and arrange for signs, barriers and whatever else is needed."

There were issues of insurance, personal liability and human rights if police officers carried out duties outside their legal remit.

Sgt Griffiths had met the town clerk almost a year ago to discuss the issue and attended a meeting with the clerk and a North Yorkshire highways representative about six months ago.

"The town clerk has had more than adequate notice of this. It is out of the police's hands and is a matter purely for the council," said Sgt Griffiths.

Mayor Coun Stuart Parsons told Monday's meeting that town hall staff would have to control access to the square from The Channel, man road closure barriers in New Road and other points, and direct large lorries with fairground rides and stalls.

Coun Tom Burrows said staff were not trained to carry out such work and risked abuse from motorists and, at worst, personal injury.

* More town council news: Page 8