NORTH Yorkshire's new chief constable, Della Cannings, is adopting an uncompromising tone in her current series of public meetings held around the county. If you want a decent police force, she says, you'll have to pay for it.

Council taxpayers seem certain to have to do that, whether they like it or not. The meetings have been dressed up as a consultation but in reality they can be nothing more than an softening up exercise. The smart money is on a substantial rise in the police authority precept, or tax bill, when it meets on February 10.

The problem is not one of Ms Cannings' making, nor that of her predecessor. The force has been underfunded over a period of years and the most recent central Government settlement has not improved matters. Indeed, the bizarre way the funding formula works means that Ms Cannings is in no position other than to recommend a massive tax increase. A standstill budget with no increase in the council tax means cuts in funding the following year.

Of course, what Ms Cannings cannot point out is the political nature of the central Government grant this year. This is yet another example of the taxation burden being shifted away from those directly raised by Whitehall and those raised indirectly. And as for North Yorkshire's particular problems covering a huge rural area - the so-called sparsity factor - there would never be much chance of a Labour administration taking much notice of that.

What everyone in the county should be aware of is that the scale of this tax increases is unprecedented. Whilst Ms Cannings talks of rises of 60p, 90p or £1.30 per week, these represent percentage increases of 35pc, 53pc and 76pc.

Ms Cannings appears to favour the last of those options - which in turns means she will be under pressure next year to deliver spectacular improvements in the police service. The taxpayer will expect nothing less.