THE 76 per cent hike in tax agreed by North Yorkshire Police Authority has been defended by one of its members.

North Yorkshire County Councillor David Lloyd-Williams told the Ryedale community and police group meeting at Pickering: "North Yorkshire was falling behind forces in other parts of the country."

But he said that Chief Constable Della Cannings had been told that she must come up with "very positive" ways to improve the public's safety.

"We will not feel safe if we don't invest in our police," said Coun Lloyd-Williams.

"We have bitten a very hard bullet in the past two years to enable us to catch up on our spending level. But we have made it clear to the Chief Constable that we don't expect to see her coming with a begging bowl again next year."

He was answering criticism from Coun Alan Farnaby, leader of Ryedale District Council, that the rise was "immoral and irresponsible" because the police authority did not have the support of the public in imposing the increase.

There was a feeling that the authority's public consultation meetings had been "a sham" because the decision on the tax rise had already been made, added Coun Farnaby. Temporary Chief Supt David Short said that North Yorkshire was to get 60 new police support officers - "they are halfway between a traffic warden and a policeman" - and it was expected that Ryedale would get an allocation. In addition the district is to get two probationer officers. "Staffing is up to strength," he added. Mr Short said the police were determined to clamp down on the use of crack cocaine and heroin in North Yorkshire because it was one of the major causes of crime.

Updated: 09:01 Friday, February 28, 2003