FOUR people were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cannabis in Selby as part of an ongoing police operation against drug crime.

The news comes as police in Selby have called crime rates in the town “encouraging”, despite an announcement from the Home Office that figures had risen on last year.

Two men and two women were arrested at a property in Hempbridge Close, Selby, as part of Operation Orate on Thursday, on suspicion of possession with intent to supply 80 wraps of cannabis which was found in a safe at the property.

Inspector Richard Abbott, of Selby’s Rural Safer Neighbourhood Team, said crime had fallen in the last three months, despite figures released by the Home Office which showed a rise in crime in the first three months of 2011 compared to the previous year.

He said the rise was due in part to proactive policing, such as Operation Orate.

He said: “Despite the media portraying a nation of desperate people committing crime in desperate times the crime rates in the Selby District are falling. Overall crime for this year, compared with last year, is down 5.6 per cent. Domestic burglaries remain at the same level, as does theft. Non-domestic burglaries have fallen by 15 per cent.

“One area where crime has risen is theft of and theft from motor vehicles. Although this rise is small in numbers it does give us concern and we ask that residents of the district ensure they secure their vehicles and take the necessary measures to remove valuables. These figures are based on relatively small numbers and Selby District continues to be one of the safest places to live in the UK.”

The two men, aged 21 and 33, and two women, aged 18 and 41, were all released on bail as police continue their enquiries, and the drugs were seized by police who have so far seized more than £1 million worth of drugs and cultivation equipment since Operation Orate started last year.