THE justice system in part of the region has come under fire after failing to hit Government targets.

North Yorkshire's Criminal Justice Board (CJB) has achieved one of six targets, although it is making progress in two others.

In contrast, three targets have been achieved in Durham, with progress made on another, and two in Cleveland, where progress is being made on three others.

The best-performing justice board in the North is Northumbria. It has already achieved four of the six targets.

The justice boards, which bring together the police, courts, prisons, probation service and prosecutors, were formed in April. The targets cover policing and judicial areas.

All boards are required to increase the number of offences dealt with at court by five per cent by March, but North Yorkshire failed to supply a figure.

The North Yorkshire board also failed to hit a target for the percentage of trials delayed and the time it took to bring persistent young offenders to justice.

A spokesman for the North Yorkshire CJB said: "North Yorkshire has the highest targets of anyone in the country. For example, we set a target of answering all 999 calls within five seconds. Most forces set a 20-second target, so if we answer 90 per cent of calls within five seconds but everyone else answers 99 per cent of calls within 20 seconds, it makes us look not as good.

"Our position is improving and we are pushing on. We are not by any means satisfied that there are not ways that we could do better and we are constantly looking at ways to improve."