IT is unfortunate that David Rhodes has received literature from Humberside Police when the village is policed by North Yorkshire Police ("Local policing is now a joke", Letters, December 28).

The timing of the leaflet appears to be before the publication of the HM Inspector of Constabulary report proposing the merger of forces. Presumably the circulation to the residents of Cliffe was based on a mistaken belief by Humberside Police that it was in Humberside.

North Yorkshire Police Authority and police force do communicate information to the residents of North Yorkshire on action being undertaken. The police authority circulates a leaflet with its council tax circular on its budget and accountability on how it is spent. It also holds regular public meetings around the county which listen to the views of the public and explain the authority's actions.

North Yorkshire Police, through its website, invited members of the public for their views on the proposed merger of forces and this consultation has been included in the proposals for the future of the force forwarded to the Home Office.

It is incorrect to say that Selby does not have local policing. Under NYP Thrust, Cliffe, like any other rural village, is policed by a neighbourhood policing team with a dedicated neighbourhood policing officer, with support from police community support officers and members of the special constabulary.

Members of this team attend public meetings and co-ordinate policing action based on requests and feedback from the public. They are backed up by a 24-hour response team based at Selby.

The Selby district, including Cliffe, has seen marked falls in crime based on this dedicated local neighbourhood policing. Last year it was down 16 per cent and so far this year crime is down by another 6 per cent. Selby has detected 38 per cent of all crimes reported.

Lewis Raw,

Detective Superintendent,

Central Area,

North Yorkshire Police,

Fulford Road,

York.

Updated: 09:51 Monday, January 02, 2006