NORTH Yorkshire Police was today under fresh pressure to put more officers in York after the case was made to David Blunkett.

The Home Secretary was told almost half of all the county's crime - 32,091 out of 67,798 recorded incidents - took place in the city.

But the central policing area, which covers York, gets less than a third (414) of the 1,461 officers employed by the force.

Speaking in the House of Commons, York MP Hugh Bayley told Mr Blunkett: "The

police precept in North Yorkshire has more than doubled in the past three

years, but not all the extra money is being spent on front-line policing, which is what the public want.

"Although we now have the largest ever number of police officers in North Yorkshire, people in the central area, have less than half the police resources.

"People would like to see a police authority that represents their views and ensures that resources are placed where they are most needed in the county."

Mr Blunkett indicated he backed Mr Bayley's plea - stating the Home Office had made extra cash available to North Yorkshire to deal with specific

problems such as anti-war protests at Menwith Hill early-warning base.

This, he said, had been done to ensure areas like York did not miss out.

Mr Blunkett said: "I hope that the North Yorkshire force will take note of (Mr Bayley's) plea and recognise that, where there have been additional

strains in North Yorkshire, such as in the policing of Menwith Hill, the Home Office has been prepared to put in extra resources to ensure that

policing is not damaged, including in places such as York."

The Home Secretary also said it was a "great shame" minority parties on City of York Council were not represented on the police authority.

The only two places available to the council are taken by the ruling Liberal Democrat group.

Updated: 10:53 Tuesday, March 23, 2004