NORTH Yorkshire Police is going to change. That is nothing new. Since modern policing began at the end of the 19th century, it has been subject to constant revision.

The North Yorkshire force came about 30 years ago when parts of the York, North East Yorkshire and West Riding Constabulary were amalgamated. Now it looks like that force is to be merged again with one or more of its neighbours.

The Inspectorate of Constabulary report, welcomed by Home Secretary Charles Clarke, insists the existing structure of 43 police forces is outdated. The message: modern crime, such as drug trafficking and terrorism, demands a bigger, stronger response than Britain's smaller forces can deliver.

According to the inspectorate, this makes financial sense too. If the £2.3 billion predicted savings materialised and were spent putting more police on the beat - two big ifs, we know - residents and criminals would certainly notice the difference.

Yet there are anxieties about losing the local touch. North Yorkshire is a predominantly rural area which could find itself down the priority list of a merged "superforce" which included major cities such as Leeds or Newcastle.

The larger the policing area and the more distant its headquarters, the less accountable it becomes. Fighting crime relies on a bond of trust between public and police, which could be loosened by a remote regional service.

The police are here to serve the people. Before anything is imposed by London's politicians, North Yorkshire's residents must be consulted.

Updated: 10:06 Tuesday, September 20, 2005