Hands off our community police force - that was the message to North Yorkshire Chief Constable David Kenworthy at a meeting in Skipton.

Protesters gathered last night to voice opposition to plans to merge the Craven division with another area.

People at a packed Skipton Town Hall voted unanimously to oppose the Chief Constable's proposals which could see Craven lose its status as a division and become part of a bigger police area.

If Craven becomes part of another division it will lose its superintendent and be overseen by an inspector.

The meeting was called by North Yorkshire Councillors Shelagh Marshall, Irene Greaves, Robert Heseltine and Tim Cole.

Craven Councillor Steve Place called for Craven to be made a special case because of its proximity to the large conurbations of Colne and Burnley and Leeds and Bradford.

He asked Skipton Divisional Commander Andy Parker for the views of Skipton officers. Mr Parker said: "I think the general view is that they wish to remain as we are at present - a division."

Mr Kenworthy praised officers in the division for their excellent record in halving the crime rate since 1992. "Craven is a very safe place in which to live," he said.

He said he appreciated what people were saying about retaining Craven's status and would take it into account when making his decision. He would be compiling a report to be presented to the county police authority when it met at the end of October.

Mr Kenworthy has been called on to carry out a review of the police authority following an HMI Inspectorate recommendation. Since then, the authority had received a reduced budget and he was forced to make savings of two per cent.

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