North Yorkshire Police have made the decision to stop helping manage the traffic for 32 small Remembrance Day events for the first time.

Officers will still be attending services and those on patrol are invited to take moments to reflect but they will not be managing traffic for certain smaller events on the day.

The decision comes after the National Police Chiefs Council stressed that police should not take responsibility for closing roads or managing traffic except in an emergency.

All 32 Remembrance Day events in and around York will go without police support this year.

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Assistant Chief Constable Elliot Foskett from North Yorkshire Police, said: "As a veteran of eight years, with two brothers still serving members of the military, a grandfather who was a Marine in World War Two and an uncle who served in Burma, I am fully behind Remembrance Sunday and so is North Yorkshire Police.

“We will still be attending the services in uniform and laying wreaths alongside our military, emergency service and community partners.

“Our officers will also be encouraged to attend events when they are on patrol and are able to pause for a while, to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom today.

“North Yorkshire will be visible, present and proud to pay our respects as we have throughout our history.”

He explained that the decision had been made to comply with the National Police Chiefs' Council.

ACC Foskett added: "It is true, however, that we have had to make the difficult but lawful decision to cease providing traffic management support to 32 smaller Remembrance Day events in North Yorkshire and the City of York.

“Under the Traffic Management Act 2004, which placed the responsibility on the Local Authority and event organisers, the larger Remembrance Day events in our area have utilised traffic management companies to ensure public safety.

“However, for many years, North Yorkshire Police has continued to provide a traffic management function to the smaller Remembrance Day events.

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“In line with the legislation, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing have stressed that policing should not take responsibility for closing roads or managing traffic, other than in an emergency.

“This is to make sure police resources remain focused on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.

“With immediate effect, North Yorkshire Police has repositioned to fully comply and will not be undertaking routine traffic management for any Remembrance Day events in 2023 and in subsequent years."