NORTH Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan has won her bid to receive Home Office funding for some of the costs incurred for policing fracking protests in Kirby Misperton.

Ms Mulligan's office said that a "detailed analysis" of North Yorkshire Police’s approach during the 2017 protests has been taking place.

The analysis, led by the Home Office and including Her Majesty’s Inspectorate, has assessed the operation and its value for money.

It concluded the policing was "efficient and effective" and Ministers have agreed to cover 85 per cent of the ‘additional costs’ of the operation – amounting to £614,000, the maximum amount possible under the scheme.

Commenting on the decision, Julia Mulligan said: "It is right that the Government has agreed to pay these costs.

"The police operation had a significant and visible impact on the local community, but it has also had an impact more widely across North Yorkshire given the number of officers involved."

More details in next week's Gazette & Herald.