CRIME in York and Selby dropped by 12 per cent in March and 39 per cent of all the month's crime was detected, the area's top police officer has claimed.

Chief Superintendent Tim Madgwick, York and Selby area commander, told York councillors the figure was a "huge improvement" on previous detection rates of between 15 and 18 per cent.

There were 362 fewer crimes committed in the York and Selby area than at the same time last year, he said.

Tied in with the force's intelligence-led policing has been a push to target a small number of prolific offenders.

He said the force surveillance team had been brought into York to work on specific incidents, and that 80 officers had been permanently moved from other duties - mainly jobs at headquarters - back to the front line.

Mr Madgwick said: "The extra officers are not the primary reason for crime reduction, but everything helps towards the ultimate goal."

Mr Madgwick, who, along with Assistant Chief Constable David Collins was speaking to City of York Council's shadow executive yesterday, admitted there had been a rise in some violent crimes.

He said some of this was drink-related, and said the Licensing Act 2003, which will pass responsibility for licensing from the courts to local councils, was a "tremendous opportunity" to change Britain's drinking culture.

Councillors stressed the frustration of York residents over perceived shortcomings with the police's call handling system.

Micklegate member Dave Evans said some people no longer bothered to report crime, because they believed they would not get through and there would be no police response.

Mr Madgwick admitted there had been problems with call handling last year.

But he said 90 per cent of calls were now dealt with within the target time.

Updated: 10:30 Thursday, April 01, 2004