THESE are record-breaking times for North Yorkshire police. Last month, the police precept rose by a vertigo-inducing 76 per cent - on top of a 41 per cent rise the previous year.

After the pain comes the gain. Today the force enjoyed its largest ever intake of new officers, bringing the total strength to 1,441.

Chief Constable Della Cannings pledged to boost police numbers and, impressively, has delivered. But Ms Cannings will be more aware than anyone that the job starts now. She has more money and more officers than any of her predecessors. There can be no more excuses.

Everyone will be expecting the new improved police force to deliver. Each householder will be watching to see what value they are getting for their increased bill.

Politicians from councils across the county are demanding results in their patch, to make amends for the precept hike which many voters wrongly blame on them.

So the pressure is on the Chief Constable. And extra resources alone will not make the difference. It is what Ms Cannings does with them that counts.

As our features leading up to the precept rise revealed, North Yorkshire police, underfunded for so long, have a long shopping list.

Already York council leader Dave Merrett has complained that the new cash "is only going to pay for more technological improvements". Some investment in new technology will reap results: computerised fingerprint scanning, for example, would prevent serial offenders from slipping through the net.

But the most productive investment is in people. Ms Cannings is right to make high visibility policing a top priority. Regular patrols will deter criminals, help mend the damaged relationship between police and public, and reduce fear of crime.

Her decision to send rookie constables on patrol, accompanied by more senior officers, is another good idea. They will learn at least as much on the streets as in the classroom.

Now we must wait to see if the biggest, costliest North Yorkshire police service in history can deliver record-breaking results.

Updated: 10:34 Tuesday, March 11, 2003