A police chief is acting to ease fears about 'loss of bobbies' in Craven.

At a full meeting of Craven Council, North Yorkshire Chief Constable David Kenworthy said the district-wide police boundary review would be followed by better police cover and improved communications.

"Your local officers are not going to change and I am trying to leave you with what you have already got. The force will be leaner, meaner and more efficient," he added.

Mr Kenworthy promised to cut crime by five per cent each year for the next three years. He also hinted that the new police headquarters might not be situated in Harrogate, as originally thought. He added: "We are getting a new radio system next year so people will be able to communicate a lot better than they can now. I admit that the telephone system is absolutely awful at the moment and I am trying to change that. Officers will be able to locate where your call is coming from and will then be able to deal with it quickly."

The Chief Constable explained the review was being carried out because of a financial shortfall. Savings had to be made.

Superintendent Andy Parker is to take over the Craven area. He pledged to continue improving community safety.

The Craven police division is being merged with a big new boundary area, which will result in the loss of the control room at Skipton station.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.