The North Yorkshire Police Authority has promised a better service in return for a major increase in the police budget.

The authority approved a 22% rise in the police budget for 2003/04 at their annual meeting in Earswick, York.

The Chief Constable now has �118m to spend on policing - �21m more than the previous year.

It means council tax payers in the region will pay an extra �1.30 per week, taking weekly police contributions to �3.00.

More pressure

Chief Constable Della Cannings believes the extra money will make a real difference to policing in the region.

"I am confident that we, and all our partner agencies, can make an impact on crime in this area," she said.

Authority vice-chairman Graham Robertson said the pressure was now on as a result of the increase.

He told BBC North Yorkshire: "The Police Authority will be saying, 'These are the targets we expect you to deliver and by jove chief constable if you don't deliver them there is going to be a problem'."

North Yorkshire Police covers one of the largest geographical areas in the country and has one of the lowest crime rates.