Rumour of 54pc tax rise denied by police (From Gazette & Herald)

Rumour of 54pc tax rise denied by police

RYEDALE householders face another rise in their tax to the North Yorkshire Police Authority following last year's controversial massive 76pc increase in precept.

But Jeremy Holderness, the authority's secretary, said suggestions of a 54pc rise was "massively speculative".

He told the Gazette & Herald that much would depend on Home Secretary David Blunkett's announcement of details of his national policing plan, expected this week, and the Government's decision on funding levels for the police.

Mr Holderness said because of the uncertainty it was not known whether any increase in precept would be "a single figure or in the teens", adding: "We are getting mixed messages - the jury is still out."

Much would depend on whether Mr Blunkett opts to give police authorities a blanket increase nationwide, or gives higher percentages to areas where there is more crime, at the expense of the rural areas.

But talk of a 54pc increase in North Yorkshire was "far from reliable", said Mr Holderness.

The authority would have to assess its needs factor and the ability of North Yorkshire council taxpayers to find any additional funding, when it makes its decision on the budget for 2004-5 financial year on February 9 in York.

"But it will be nowhere near 54pc," he said.

Mr Holderness said that extensive consultation would be carried out in December and January, involving not only public meetings, as last year, but

through online questionnaires, citizens' panels, focus groups and talks with Ryedale District Council and other district and borough authorities in North Yorkshire.

Last year's 76pc rise produced an extra £13m for investment and modernisation in the county police service.

Meanwhile, chief constable Della Cannings, reviewing her first year in the post, said: "The force is now better-funded than at any time in its history."

By the end of this year, the North Yorkshire force will have more than 1,500 men and women in uniform - the highest figure ever - and the appointment of nine additional superintendents had given "much needed resilience" at senior level.

Some 80 police officers and eight civilian police staff had been returned from non-operational to front-line duties.

"It has been an eventful but satisfying year which has presented many challenges," said the chief constable. "However, this is only the beginning. I am confident that in a further 12 months' time we will have achieved a great deal more."

The launch of Operation Delivery in September had seen more than 1,400 additional arrests, which in turn was driving down the crime rate and increasing detections, added Ms Cannings. "It will continue relentlessly. We are upping the criminals' feel-bad factor and they don't like that one bit."

Updated: 09:20 Wednesday, November 05, 2003