Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake has launched a scathing attack on North Yorkshire Police after officers raised child welfare concerns while responding to a reported burglary at a family farmhouse in his constituency.
MP Describes Police Actions as 'Disgraceful'
In a strongly worded video posted to YouTube, the MP for Thirsk and Malton criticised what he called a "strange" response from officers who attended the incident. Mr Hollinrake, who also serves as chairman of the Conservative Party, revealed that a father had contacted police with concerns about a suspected burglary, but when officers arrived, their focus shifted dramatically.
Welfare Concerns Override Burglary Investigation
The MP explained that instead of concentrating on the burglary report, officers initiated a Public Protection Notice to check on the living conditions of two children at the property. According to Mr Hollinrake, the officer questioned whether there was sufficient food in the pantry, commented on "hygiene" concerns, noted a "strong odour" in the property, and observed "sticky and dirty surfaces."
"I think it's utterly disgraceful, actually, the whole thing," Mr Hollinrake stated in his video message. "You're investigating a burglary, you go around to the house and then they seem to be more interested in whether the kids are being looked after than whether the burglary can be successfully investigated - which it wasn't."
Police Response Days Later
The MP further revealed that police contacted the family days later to inform them they couldn't progress with the burglary investigation. Mr Hollinrake described the affected family as "lovely" and expressed frustration that officers hadn't focused on their "day jobs" of investigating crime.
Following the incident, the MP wrote directly to North Yorkshire Police's Chief Constable to formally complain about the force's handling of the situation.
Police Force Defends Officer's Actions
North Yorkshire Police has robustly defended the officer's conduct, stating they "did the right thing" in accordance with their training and professional responsibilities.
Professional Curiosity and Child Protection
Catherine Clarke, assistant chief constable for local policing and safeguarding, explained that the officer attended the property in response to burglary reports but became concerned about living conditions and potential health implications for children residing there.
"The officer followed appropriate lines of enquiry to enable an investigation to follow," Ms Clarke stated. "Whilst at the address, the officer became concerned about the living conditions and possible health implications for children living there and, in line with their training, displayed appropriate professional curiosity to explore their concerns."
No Apology for Child-Centred Approach
The assistant chief constable acknowledged that police questions about child welfare might feel intrusive to families but emphasised the force would never apologise for taking proactive measures to protect vulnerable children.
"We fully appreciate that Police Officers asking questions about the welfare of children may feel intrusive, however we would never apologise for taking a child-centred approach and for being proactive in ensuring that the wellbeing of children is protected," Ms Clarke affirmed.
She added that North Yorkshire Police had engaged with the family to explain why the officer took this action and encouraged both officers and the public to raise welfare concerns when appropriate to ensure society's most vulnerable remain protected from harm.
