POLICE in North Yorkshire are to receive just over £1m from the government in the current financial year as part of a £15m boost for rural forces in England and Wales.

The force covering England's largest county has also been assured by the Home Office that it will receive extra money in future years following the comprehensive spending review announced by the government.

The news is expected to be considered by North Yorkshire police authority at its next meeting in open session on Monday (10.30) at Tennants' auction house, Leyburn. Thirty minutes will be set aside for public questions.

This year's total of £15m was determined according to the rural nature of each police authority area and has been distributed to those authorities with the lowest population densities.

Baroness Harris of Richmond, chairman of North Yorkshire police authority and a leading light in the Association of Police Authorities, said months of hard work by the APA on behalf of rural forces had paid off.

"We are delighted with this news because we have long said that rural police areas, particularly ourselves, were underfunded by the previous government and by the policies of the present government. North Yorkshire has known that it was almost £2m short.

"We welcome wholeheartedly what the government has done in its acceptance that central funding was absolutely crucial to pay for the tremendously expensive new radio system we are being forced to buy.

"We have got even more than we had hoped for. There would have been some serious questions asked if the government had not come forward with spending proposals.

"The concern I have now is on the detail because so much of what the Government has been handing out in little bits has been ring fenced and we have had to bid for it."

Mr Peter Walker, assistant chief constable operations North Yorkshire police, added: "This announcement recognises the complexities of policing the rural communities. Our chief priority will be to increase the patrolling presence of operational officers throughout North Yorkshire."

County Durham constabulary will receive £124,270.

Assistant chief constable Ron Hogg of Durham constabulary, said: "There are specific difficulties in policing rural areas. We very much welcome this injection of government cash."

Durham constabulary has had considerable success through its nationally acclaimed Farm Watch scheme and the cash will enable it to develop further similar initiatives across the region as well as put more bobbies on the beat.

l With Baroness Harris in the Lords: page 21