Force celebrates as county's number of officers soars

The county learnt at the weekend that it has the fastest growing police force in the country after Chief Constable David Kenworthy confirmed that the number of serving officers would soar to a record high by the end of the month.

The force will have grown by an extra 98 officers this financial year, taking the total to 1,420 - the highest number since the local government shake-up of 1974 created the North Yorkshire Police.

Mr Kenworthy said the figure would also be maintained over the coming year after police authority members voted for a huge rise in the police precept, the part of council tax which pays for law enforcement matters.

Latest Home Office figures show that North Yorkshire is three times above the national average when it comes to police recruitment.

From September 2000 to 2001, the force grew by 7.5 per cent, compared with the average of 2.4 per cent.

Mr Kenworthy said: "We promised to recruit more officers than we have ever had before and we have achieved that target.

"I hope that the recruitment of these extra officers reassures the public that we are more determined and more committed than ever to driving down and detecting crime in North Yorkshire."

Statistics have also shown that the county is making great strides in dealing with persistent young offenders.

By November last year, the average period of time from arrest to sentencing in North Yorkshire was 36 days. The national average for England and Wales was 67 days.

Head of the force's administration of justice department, Chief Superintendant Paul Gregory, said: "We realise the importance of dealing with young offenders thoroughly, professionally and speedily.

"Since April of last year, the force has been at the forefront in meeting Government requirements in this area, thanks to the efforts of all our staff involved in dealing with youth justice and the support we have received from the Crown Prosecution Service and the youth courts."