PARISH councillors across North Yorkshire are objecting to a "best bobby" scheme.

Forms sent out by North Yorkshire police seeking nominations for top officers have prompted anger.

The general message being sent back to the force is: if we could ever see a community police officer we might nominate him.

At a number of council meetings, members or the public have scorned the scheme.

But a spokesman for the police said officers were trying to make positive contributions to community life.

The force and the police authority wanted to spotlight officers who had contributed most to local life.

So they were inviting people and organisations to nominate officers and give the reasons why their efforts should be recognised.

The challenge is being run on a local basis and each of the county's eight police districts will choose a winner to go forward to a grand final.

But at parish council meetings the idea has not gone down well.

Skeeby Parish Council was told by one member: "The police authority has asked for nominations, but the trouble is that as we have not set eyes on a community police officer we are not able to make a nomination."

Clerk Robin Bullivant has now sent this comment on to the police authority.

"About a year ago a sergeant came to a Neighbourhood Watch meeting in the village and said there would be a community police officer. He asked if we would make him welcome.

"But he must have got lost on his way from Richmond to Skeeby as we have not seen a community bobby.

"So getting this questionnaire and nomination form rubbed salt in the wound.Everyone is crying out for a community bobby. There was all this fuss about the police precept on the council tax going up and for what?"

At Brompton Parish Council, as in previous years, members were asked to nominate a community policeman of the year.

Clerk Paul Atkin said: "We have replied that we are again disappointed to receive such a form when the parish does not have a community officer of its own."

Since then, though, the council has received a positive response from a local senior officer and this will be debated at the next meeting.

When the matter was discussed at Thornton-le-Beans parish council, a member of the public suggested that if a local police officer could be seen then he should be nominated.

The force spokesman said: "We are well aware that every village does not have a local officer but many are working in the community and not just constables. Officers of all ranks are trying to make a positive contribution to community life.

"We have already made new appointments to place people in community roles.

"Last year, every one of our eight force districts nominated someone from their area.

"The whole point is that officers are working within communities and we are asking people to recognise that so we can in turn recognise the officers.

"If people feel they do not have anyone to recommend that is something which should be addressed with the local commander."

Nomination forms are available from North Yorkshire Police Authority, PO Box 106, Ripon HG4 5WA.

The closing date for nominations is July 31.