A NORTH Yorkshire MP has welcomed news that crime has fallen in the county and that up to 60 new police officers will be recruited within months.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics last week showed reported crimes in North Yorkshire were down ten per cent last year, and were announced as Julia Mulligan, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, promised to create 60 vacancies by the end of 2014.

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty said: “We are reforming the police so they can cut crime and make our communities safer. These figures are clear evidence that those reforms appear to be working.

“The news that crime is falling in North Yorkshire will be warmly welcomed by local people. Our hardworking North Yorkshire police officers in can be proud of their success and I am delighted that our crime commissioner is recruiting more officers.”

Commissioner Mulligan said: “I know that people want to see officers on the streets and this campaign will help to make sure that we maximise coverage across North Yorkshire for the next few years.

“The recruitment of high-quality officers is a fundamental part of my central goal to ensure people are safe, that we remain the safest county in England and residents of North Yorkshire feel safe.”