A community and police (CAP) meeting was re-scheduled to stifle public criticism, it was claimed today.

But the group's chairman said there was no "hidden agenda". It had to be brought forward to avoid clashing with another meeting.

The CAP meeting, at which local people meet senior police officers, scheduled for Friday, May 18, was brought forward by one day.

Then at short notice, the afternoon slot advertised on posters around Ryedale had to be changed again and the meeting was held at 10.30am.

Malton resident David Snaith said: "This was done deliberately to keep dissenting voices away," he said.

"The new poster with the new time was only put up on one noticeboard in town."

Mr Snaith said he had wanted to quiz senior officers about the proposed 24-hour opening for pubs, CCTV and nuisance youths, but the unpublicised change meant he could not have his say.

David Lloyd-Williams, the group's chairman, said: "I can categorically state there was no hidden agenda in changing the time of the meeting"

It had been brought forward to Thursday because Chief Supt Paul Gregory, the area commander, could not make it on Friday.

It had been rescheduled from 2pm to 10.30am because some delegates had a district council meeting that day.

"Some new notices went up publicising the new time, but some weren't changed and I apologise for the inconvenience, but there was nothing to hide."

Updated: 10:40 Wednesday, May 30, 2001