A REPORT due before the Scrutiny Committee of Selby District Council this week, shows the number of emergency calls answered within ten seconds has failed to meet the target set by North Yorkshire Police.

Only 77.4 per cent of calls to 999 in July were answered in time less than ten seconds, compared with 95.4 per cent on an average month.

The report also shows that the average time taken to answer a 999 call was ten seconds in July, compared to an average of 4.3 seconds, and under three-quarters of non-emergency calls were answered within 30 seconds in July, compared to a monthly average of 90.4 per cent.

Yesterday, The Press revealed exclusive figures which showed police in North Yorkshire were taking twice as long to answer 999 calls this year, as authorities try to deal with Government cuts.

However, the report showed some improvement with Selby’s performance, with police attending 89 per cent of to urban incidents wiithin 15 minutes (up from an average of 83.8 per cent), 90 per cent of victims being “pleased” with the time it took police to arrive (up from an average of 83.3 per cent), and the percentage of victims who had been given updates on their crimes without asking for them, rising from 55 per cent from 48.9 per cent in July.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said it would be inappropriate to comment on the report ahead of the council meeting.

But one victim of crime from the Selby area has praised the force’s response after thieves stole tens of thousands of pounds’ worth of unique copper and bronze sculptures from his home.

Michael Lyons, an artist who lives in Cawood, said he was satisfied with his experience with the police: “The police arrived very, very quickly indeed. It was a young constable who took the matter very seriously and I was really impressed by him.

“I was called back the next day and asked if I would go to the press and get some publicity for the crime. As far as I’m concerned, they have done quite well, even if they don’t find the sculptures.”

A question put to the meeting by Councillor Chris Pearson has claimed the non emergency line to report incidents was very user unfriendly, but Mr Lyons disagreed with this.

He said: “I called the non-emergency line and I didn’t have much difficulty getting through, I think we got cut off at one point, but I was called back straight away.

“I have found them pretty good so far, but right from the beginning they have been doing very well. They can only do so much.”

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said lines of inquiry into the theft had been exhausted, and Mr Lyon’s case had been closed pending any further information.