41pc rise? So what do we get out of it? (From Gazette & Herald)

41pc rise? So what do we get out of it?

ANGRY Ryedale councillors are seeking a face-to-face meeting with North Yorkshire's new chief constable, Della Canning, and the chairman of the police authority, County Coun Jane Kenyon, over plans to hike the police share of the council tax bill by a forecast 41pc this year.

Coun Pamela Anderson told the district council that the increase was on top of last year's 41pc increase, yet people in Ryedale were complaining that the service they were receiving was poor.

At Swinton, part of her own ward, residents had funded the printing of notices warning would-be criminals that it was now a neighbourhood watch community after an 89-year-old woman was burgled twice within a few days.

Her family went to her aid and made a 999 call, "but they were told off and were told to ring Malton police".

An hour and a half later, said Coun Anderson police arrived - all the way from Northallerton. She praised Ryedale Housing Association for its prompt action in stepping up security at the pensioner's home.

"We have got to do something to protect our residents," she added.

Coun Gary Hobbs described the police authority's projected increase as "absolutely outrageous".

The leader of the council, Coun Alan Farnaby said Mrs Canning was due to speak at the Ryedale community and police group meeting at Sheriff Hutton village hall on Thursday, January 23, at 7.30pm and he urged councillors and the public to attend to express their concerns.

But he added the police authority had also re-arranged a public consultation meeting at Pickering Memorial Hall for the same night to discuss the budget.

He criticised the authority for its bad planning because it had already arranged the consultation meeting on the same night as the RDC regular meeting.

As a result, the district council is to send a letter protesting about the lack of liaison saying it had resulted in the clash of the police roadshow meeting and the public meeting at Sheriff Hutton with Mrs Canning, which will be her first attendance at a CAP meeting.

Coun Farnaby said there had been a lack of consultation by the police authority with RDC.

Coun Wilf Garbutt said he had been given information that there were only three police officers on duty at night in an area stretching from Allerston to Sutton Bank.

The council unanimously agreed to a suggestion by chief executive Harold Mosley that Mrs Canning and Coun Kenyon should be asked to attend a full meeting of RDC to discuss the policing crisis in Ryedale.

Updated: 09:54 Wednesday, January 15, 2003