Police Looking For Wanted Man in Scarborough

Officers are appealing for sightings and information to help track down wanted Scarborough man Robert Chinchen.

The 36-year-old was only released from prison on Thursday, but he breached his licence conditions by absconding from Probation Service approved accommodation in Leeds, that night.

Chinchen has also breached an interim Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order that was imposed on him on Friday 25 July 2025 at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court.

It is believed he will be heading to or already in the Scarborough area.

If you have seen Mr Chinchen or know where Police can find him, they say please make a report without delay – call 999 for immediate sightings or 101 to provide information.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by making an online report.

Please quote reference number 12250147910 when providing details

In a first for North Yorkshire Police, the Scarborough Neighbourhood Policing Team is making innovative use of modern slavery legislation to manage the behaviour of Chinchen who they say has caused “misery and fear” on the town’s Barrowcliff estate.  

The application for the interim STRO was spearheaded by Scarborough Neighbourhood Policing Team Inspector Craig Regan and was successfully made on behalf of the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police.

It falls under the Barrowcliff 'Clear, Hold, Build' project. 

Following research of the legislation, Insp Regan identified that police could apply for an interim STRO in cases where an individual has not been convicted of a slavery or human trafficking offence, but are suspected of posing a significant risk of committing such offences.

The civil order, which comes under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, allow courts to place restrictions on a person’s behaviour to prevent harm, such as limiting travel or contact with vulnerable individuals.

Breaching a STRO is a criminal offence punishable by:

• Up to five years' imprisonment on conviction on indictment (Crown Court)
• Up to six months' imprisonment on summary conviction (Magistrates’ Court)

They say this makes it a serious matter, and police have the power to arrest someone suspected of breaching an STRO.

In relation to Chinchen, the investigation gathered substantial evidence putting him in a role of exploiting multiple victims and other vulnerable individuals within the local community.

It was provided on behalf of many victims by partner agencies such as North Yorkshire Horizons Drug and Alcohol Services, Social Services, IDAS and North Yorkshire Council, due to the fear they had of approaching North Yorkshire Police directly for help because of Chinchen’s criminal exploitation.

Chinchen’s interim STRO prohibitions

With the interim STRO in place, Chinchen is prohibited from:

* Entering any property* in the specified area, unless formally residing there with prior written permission from the relevant authority, such as police, North Yorkshire Council Services or National Probation Service.

 (*Property means the entirety of the premises including, but not limited to, the main building, any and all attached or detached outbuildings, annexes, shed, garages, driveways, pathways, gardens, yards and all grounds surrounding the building whether fenced, enclosed or open)

* Being in possession or control of more than one mobile phone or SIM card or using any phone/SIM not registered in their name and declared to the police.

* Using or threatening violence, intimidation, coercion or harassment against any person for the purpose of gaining access to accommodation or controlling that person’s behaviour.

* Visiting the exclusion zone (Sensitive Let area) without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.

 Chinchen is required to:

* Report as required by the Probation Service, to the Probation Service, during the period of your licence from prison.

* Report every Monday between 9am and 12pm to Neighbourhood Policing Team Office, King Street, Scarborough, or as otherwise directed in writing by the police, except during the period of your licence from prison during which time you will be required to reside in West Yorkshire.

* Notify the police within 24 hours of any change in address or phone number used.

* Provide any electronic devices, including mobile phone/communication devices used, to a police officer from his monitoring police force for inspection, upon reasonable request, specifically:

• Make and model.
• SIM card details (if applicable)
• Phone number(s) (if applicable)   

* Disclose all current and future addresses of residence or overnight stay (of more than 2 nights in 7) to the police.

The interim STRO will run until 31 October 2025 when a further hearing will be heard requesting a full order to be imposed on Chinchen.

Insp Regan said: 

“Robert Chinchen’s tactics of intimidation, coercion and manipulation have left his victims living in constant fear from which they are unable to escape.

“This has a heavy impact on their physical and psychological well-being. Without the imposition of the interim Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order, Chinchen would persist in his exploitative behaviour, putting more vulnerable individuals in danger.

“It is important to stress the considerable amount of work that has been undertaken by our Community Safety partners to bring everyone together to obtain the evidence to secure this order.”

Anna Button, Community Safety Officer for North Yorkshire Council, said: 

“Even though this was a Police-led investigation, all partners within our multi-agency team have come together to protect and safeguard victims of exploitation within our communities.”

Chief Constable Tim Forber said: 

“Robert Chinchen is clearly an individual who thinks he can operate outside of the law, and we know that he has caused misery and fear on the Barrowcliff estate and the wider Scarborough community.

“I have nothing but praise for Inspector Craig Regan and his excellent Scarborough Neighbourhood Policing Team in using the modern slavery legislation in such an innovative way.

“This is a welcome boost to the already successful multi-agency Barrowcliff ‘Clear, Hold, Build project’, which has seen a 25% decrease in overall crime on the estate since March last year.

“I know the team are more determined than ever to keep up this outstanding effort. They will continue to put maximum pressure on prolific and harmful criminals such as Chinchen, for the benefit of local residents now and for years to come.”

The interim STRO will run until 31 October 2025 when a further hearing will be heard requesting a full order to be imposed on Chinchen.