CRIME in York in and North Yorkshire has hit a ten-year low, according to the county’s top police officer.

In his annual report on the performance of North Yorkshire Police, chief constable Grahame Maxwell said the rate of overall crime had dipped below 50,000 for the fist time in a decade.

He said with 1,500 less crimes than the last financial year, the force had smashed its target of reducing the figure by 422.

Mr Maxwell said: “During the past two years North Yorkshire Police has undergone a major review of its capacity and capability to ensure the force is fit for purpose to meet the challenges that modern policing brings.

“While we still face many challenges and performance can be further improved, I am nevertheless extremely proud of the great strides we have made to drive down crime and make North Yorkshire Police the vital and trusted hub of the communities we serve.”

His report comes ahead of Friday’s meeting with the force’s Performance and Scrutiny Board, where Mr Maxwell will point out how safer neighbourhood policing teams have helped to cut down antisocial behaviour, and the success of the ongoing Operation Drystone on the county’s roads.

Jane Kenyon, chair of the North Yorkshire Police Authority, said the force would continue on the “front foot”.

“This approach should ensure that North Yorkshire and the city of York remain amongst the safest places in the country,” she said.