COMMUNITY crime-fighting across North Yorkshire is in line for a major boost with the announcement of extra cash.

The county's police force has won £710,000 to invest in crime-busting and community safety initiatives.

The cash is the force's share of the £7.1m the county has been awarded by the Government from the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) scheme.

The first priority will be the setting up of a Rural Community Safety Challenge Fund, to provide financial support for self-help crime reduction and community safety projects.

There will also be funds for Neighbourhood Watch and other watch groups.

Development workers will be appointed in each district and the post of county support officer will be created to give help to pro-active operations.

Cash will also be invested in the development of a targeted drug treatment programme, in partnership with the county's Drug Action Team.

Close links will be forged with the developing programme to combat domestic violence.

Road safety and accident reduction will also be addressed by providing a mobile accident prevention unit, which will be linked with the County Road Safety Group and the Accident Alliance.

Problems relating to youth crime will also be tackled with the help of the SRB funds.

That will involve integration with North Yorkshire County Council's Community Education to develop a county-wide Youth Action Partnership.

The York and North Yorkshire Safer Communities Consortium, based at Hawkhills, near Easingwold, is already unique nationally for its county-wide coordination of crime reduction.

The police's partnership development officer, PC Mick Gains, said the new funding would allow them to go even further.

"The success of this bid will significantly enhance the opportunities to reduce crime within a county-wide partnership environment, closely linked to the wishes of local communities," he said