NORTH Yorkshire Police needs more council tax-payers' money to modernise the force, free up officers for frontline duties and take advantage of new technology, Chief Constable Della Cannings told people in York.

Ms Cannings told the joint meeting of York and Selby's community and police groups last night that an increase in the police precept on council tax bills was the only way the force could find extra funding to move forward.

She said the force had been underfunded for many years and that current Government cash was not enough. Police pensions continued to be a drain on the budget and support systems had been stripped back to such an extent that it would be "dangerous" to go further.

She acknowledged that people had already been through the "pain" of a police precept rise last year - 50p per week for a Band D property - and could not just go on paying out. But with extra money, she hoped to be able to improve performance and reduce demands on the police in the long run.

"I am going to come back in a year and say this is the performance I have been able to give with that extra money," she said.

She outlined three examples of how precept rises ranging from 60p per week to £1.30 per week could bring improvements, ranging from 18.5 extra officers and 23.1 support staff to 90-plus extra officers, 45-plus community support officers and 90-plus support staff.

Superintendent John Lacy, York and Selby operations commander, said crime had risen 19 per cent, fuelled mostly at the start of last year by the influx of crack cocaine into the area. Crime levels were now beginning to fall. Chief Superintendent Gary Barnett, commander of the York and Selby area, explained how the new structure, being introduced into Central Area in April, aimed to improve the area's policing. From April, a team of dedicated community officers, one based in each council ward, will operate from Clifford Street police station with the aim of becoming "the familiar face" in an area.

Updated: 11:38 Thursday, January 23, 2003