THE cost of policing the fracking site has topped £621,000, the Police and Crime Commissioner has revealed.

Julia Mulligan announced on Wednesday that the cost of overtime, mutual aid, equipment, subsistence and travel costs in December was £58,488, taking the total between August and December to £621,787.

These costs do not include police officers' daily pay.

Mrs Mulligan said: "Costs were down in December, which is welcome, but there was little activity on the site so this was to be expected. I continue to keep a close eye on this operation and the cost to the North Yorkshire taxpayer.

"I will also continue to engage central government on this issue. Whilst maintaining my neutrality, I am concerned delays in processes in Westminster will have knock-on consequences here in North Yorkshire, and will be reminding Ministers of my concerns."

Mrs Mulligan also said the majority of police officers due to attend Kirby Misperton were redeployed to policing duties elsewhere on many days in December.

Superintendent Alisdair Dey said: "We are balancing the needs and wishes of everyone at Kirby Misperton — including people assembling and protesting peacefully, businesses carrying out their lawful activity, and local residents going about their daily lives safely and without disruption.

“We respond proportionately to any protest activity, so that means when it is peaceful and safe, we can reduce the number of officers at Kirby Misperton, and redeploy them to policing duties elsewhere in North Yorkshire, as we have done throughout December."