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Harassment duty in North Yorkshire

From 30 October 2026, employers can be liable for harassment of their staff by customers and other third parties unless they took all reasonable steps to prevent it.

What the 30 October change means

The duty is about steps you can show you have taken: a clear notice, a short staff briefing and a simple record of what happens. If a tribunal upholds a sexual harassment claim and finds the duty was breached, it can increase compensation by up to 25%. The Equality and Human Rights Commission can take enforcement action under this duty.

Law as at 15 October 2026. For employers in England and Wales only. Not legal advice.

Local picture in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire Council is the licensing authority for the North Yorkshire area outside the City of York. Alcohol and entertainment licensing is delivered by area teams rather than a single county desk.

As an example, Scarborough-area representations go to Licensing Services at the Town Hall on St Nicholas Street, or by email using the address on that area page. Other areas have their own queues; start from the council alcohol and entertainment licences hub.

North Yorkshire Police Licensing Section is based at Fulford Road, York. The City of York Council licensing pages list that address for police copies of applications.

City of York Council is a separate licensing authority from North Yorkshire Council. Do not send York premises matters to the North Yorkshire area teams.

Council licensing team

• Licensing authority: North Yorkshire Council
• Email: East / Scarborough area example: email address is on the Scarborough licences page (link in sources).
• Address: Licensing Services, Town Hall, St Nicholas Street, Scarborough YO11 2HG (East area example). Licensing is delivered differently by area; use the council online service to reach the right team.
• Team page: Open licensing page
• Policy: Statement of Licensing Policy 2025

City of York: City of York Council is a separate licensing authority. York Licensing Services: Eco Depot, Hazel Court, York YO10 3DS. Tel 01904 552422. Email address is on the York premises licence page.

Police licensing unit

North Yorkshire Police Licensing Section (North Yorkshire Police). North Yorkshire Police Headquarters, The Licensing Section, Fulford Road, York YO10 4BY. Licensing email is cited in the council Statement of Licensing Policy and on City of York application-routing pages.

Non-emergency: 101. Source: responsible authority / police licensing listing (checked 2026-10-15).

Harrogate Pubwatch (supported by Harrogate BID)

Harrogate BID funds and helps administer the town-centre Pubwatch scheme (more than 50 venues). Other North Yorkshire towns may run their own schemes; only Harrogate was confirmed from a current BID Pubwatch article on 16 October 2026.

Source: open source page (checked 2026-10-16).

Business support

York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub.

Sources checked 2026-10-15

• licensing_hub: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/licensing-and-registration/alcohol-and-entertainment-licences (checked 2026-10-15)
• licensing_policy: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/licensing-and-registration/alcohol-and-entertainment-licences/statement-alcohol-and-entertainment-licensing-policy (checked 2026-10-15)
• licensing_east_example: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/licensing-and-registration/licences-registrations-and-applications/licences-registrations-and-applications-scarborough-area (checked 2026-10-15)
• police_licensing_address: https://www.york.gov.uk/business-licences/send-licensing-applications (checked 2026-10-15)
• york_separate_authority: https://www.york.gov.uk/business-licences/apply-premises-licence (checked 2026-10-15)
• harrogate_pubwatch_bid: https://harrogatebid.co.uk/bid-backs-harrogate-pubwatch-scheme-with-funding-and-additional-support/ (checked 2026-10-16)
• business_support: https://ynygrowthhub.com/ (checked 2026-10-15)

Questions

Who handles premises licences in North Yorkshire?

North Yorkshire Council. Licensing is delivered differently by area. East area example address: Licensing Services, Town Hall, St Nicholas Street, Scarborough YO11 2HG.

Who is the police licensing contact?

North Yorkshire Police Licensing Section. North Yorkshire Police Headquarters, The Licensing Section, Fulford Road, York YO10 4BY. Non-emergency: 101.

Is City of York part of North Yorkshire Council licensing?

City of York Council is a separate licensing authority. York Licensing Services: Eco Depot, Hazel Court, York YO10 3DS. Tel 01904 552422.

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