A WIDE network of clergy working as chaplains in police stations is almost complete in North Yorkshire.

But the man who has helped to spearhead the spread of dog collars among the men and women in blue, said they do not descend on police stations to preach to the officers - but to help them.

The Reverend Stephen Fisher, who balances being vicar of three churches and six villages in the Thorntons and Otteringtons parishes, is co-ordinator for the scheme across the far-flung county.

Mr Fisher is chaplain for police and civilian staff at North Yorkshire Police headquarters, in Newby Wiske, near Northallerton.

"In a sense, we are going to where people are, rather than expecting them to come and worship in church," said Mr Fisher, a member of the National Association of Police Chaplains.

There are now 25 chaplains at stations in North Yorkshire, with only five more appointments needed to give coverage to all major police centres.

The latest appointment, announced this week by the Ripon and Leeds Church of England Diocese sees Canon Simon Hoare taking over as chaplain at Ripon Police Station.

Canon Hoare, is living in Ripon after retiring as a clergyman in the Skipton area, and wanted to continue to be involved in his church work.

Mr Fisher said regular visits to stations help to build lasting contacts with officers.

And he said his police work has opened his eyes to the often unseen, caring side of police officers.

The benefits of the chaplaincy service were illustrated by the Reverend Mel Grey, a former vicar in the Richmond area, who made such a success of his ministry with the police that his expertise has been used as a blueprint for others.