NORTH Yorkshire's police force was today given the go-ahead to recruit an extra 43 officers by 2003.

The boost is a share of a ring-fenced fund announced by Home Secretary Jack Straw last month, to sign up 4,000 more officers nationwide.

The 43 more than doubles the 25 officers which North Yorkshire is already allowed to recruit over the next two years.

The force had planned to recruit 20 more officers this year and a further five in the financial year 2001-2.

Now it will be able to recruit 23 in 2001-2 and an extra 25 in 2002-3 - making a total of 68 over three years.

Humberside Fire Service will be able to recruit 137 officers in the next three years, West Yorkshire 292 and South Yorkshire 197.

Tony Lidgate, of North Yorkshire Police said: "This is good news for North Yorkshire. It is our aim, when they come on stream, to direct as many as possible towards frontline policing.

"The force and the authority have been arguing very strenuously that this force needs more officers, not only to build up the shortfall that has developed, but also because of the peculiar needs of the county, where 1,300 officers are required to police two million acres round the clock. It will take a while before the new officers are recruited and trained, but they will be coming, they're very welcome and they will make a difference."

The Government has been hit by criticism that police numbers have fallen in the three years since it came to power.

And crime - particularly violent crime - has risen, allowing the Tories to condemn Labour as soft on law and order.

Home office minister Barbara Roche said the extra manpower would leave forces with no excuse for failing to cut crime.

She said: "Forces across England and Wales have now been given an unexpected boost to their existing and already enhanced recruitment plans and will want to work hard to ensure that they use these extra ring-fenced resources to improve their crime fighting capabilities.

"In return, the Government and the public will want to see results - reduction in crime, with more offenders being brought to justice.

"Crime, however, will not be solved by increasing numbers alone. Improved technology, reform of the criminal justice system and increased partnership between all agencies, together with an increase in frontline officers, is the key to successful crime reduction."

PICTURE: Jack Straw: announced cash for more police