To go straight to the Ringmaster Website Click Here Ringmaster is the NYP Community Messaging Service and for the past three years has been broadcasting messages to Watch Schemes and Communities. Now Ringmaster is a website dedicated to continuing this service and the old service will soon be phased out and this page will dissapear and the Ringmaster button will take you to the new site. Watch Members and registered parties should have received a leaflet outlining the new system and urging members to confirm their email addresses as this will become the preferred method of sending messages out. Click here if you do not have one

Ringmaster is a computer software package that allows North Yorkshire Police to send a voice, E Mail, fax, and text message to a targeted group of people.

How do the Police Use It?

Ringmaster is a database containing details of all persons who wish to receive messages from the Police. These messages can vary from notifications of meetings to be held, information on current crime trends, requests for potential witnesses, suspect persons, vehicle descriptions or crime reduction advice.

There are many different groups of people on the Ringmaster system and what may be applicable to one group may not be applicable to another. Therefore "templates" are set up so that the Police are able to specify to which group(s) of people they want a message to go to.

How do I receive a message?

Firstly you must complete a registration form with your details on, identifying by what means you would like to receive a message, and then specifying what time of the day you are able to receive those messages. Your details are put onto the system and entered under the relevant group. Some examples of groups are Neighbourhood Watch, Farm Watch, Pub Watch, Shop Watch, Business Watch etc.

A registration form can be obtained from this Harrogate and District Neighbourhood Watch website Ringmaster Registration Form (PDF) or from your local Neighbourhood Policing Officer.

Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator for the Harrogate District can be contacted on 01423 539347 for further details.

What do I do when I receive a message?

If you are a Co-ordinator of a scheme, a link in the chain, we would ask that you pass the message on to other members in your group, by whatever means you see fit. If you have some information then you should contact the Police, state that you are a member of a Watch Scheme and that you have received a Ringmaster message and you have some information.

What happens if I am out when the Ringmaster phones me?

The most effective way to receive a message is via e mail, and it doesn't matter whether you are in or not when the message is sent. Also you can easily print off the details and forward on to your friends and neighbours.

If you are unable to take the call, but have an answering machine the ringmaster will leave the message on your machine. If you do not have a machine the ringmaster will attempt to ring you up to a further 3 times during the day, before abandoning the call.

How do I access the Ringmaster website?

The new system is now web based and can be accessed via the internet at www.nypcommunitymessaging.org

Firstly you must have access to the Internet, and have registered your e mail address with North Yorkshire Police Ringmaster.

Your user name is your registered e mail address and the password is neighbourhood, then click “sign in”.
Once into the system, in the top right hand corner of the screen is the icon “My Profile”. Click on this, and the screen will now display your own personal details, which you can selectively change.
Once in this page the system will ask you to change your password, which you must do so, to something which is personal to you and you will remember.
You will not have access to anyone else's personal details, and no one else will have access to yours. You will be able to view “community info” and also “messages”.
The system is secure and your personal information is only used for the purpose of North Yorkshire Police Community Messaging and our Watch Schemes.

What happens if I have information I think will be of use to the police or other schemes?

If you or a member of your scheme witness a crime occurring and you require the police urgently then:

Ring 999

If you witness something you are not happy about or have some other information you think the Police should be made aware of, for an non urgent response.