THE new Chief Inspector of Selby has pledged to ensure victims of domestic violence find the support they need as he takes on his new role.

Chief Insp Mark Khan said some crimes, such as violence in the home, had increased recently in the area.

The existing economic environment, with hard-pressed families feeling stressed under growing financial pressures, is often blamed for the spike.

Chief Insp Khan pledged work would continue between the force and other organisations, including the Independent Domestic Abuse Service, to bring them down.

He also stressed the importance of police working with other agencies and the public to tackle problems in the district.

Chief Insp Khan started his new post this month, having previously been posted to Selby on three occasions and also spending time working in York and in the North Yorkshire Police Ccntrol room.

He said: “Domestic violence appears to have increased in the Selby district.

“Certain crimes like shop theft and domestic violence go up in times of financial austerity.

“We do not tolerate domestic violence and want that message to go out. However, when certain individuals are dealt with we want to support and help families through a partnership approach.

“I suspect that kind of problem will continue to be a problem as families continue to fall on hard times.

“I think Selby district is in a strong position through its history of partnership working to support individuals. Without that partnership working, you won’t help to improve peoples’ lives.”

Chief Insp Khan said he would like the community to be more actively involved, both through council-led Community Engagement Forums, and through volunteering with the force either as PCSOs or Special Constables, or through Neighbourhood Watch schemes.

He also said there were plans to increase the use of social media to share information.

He said: “It’s the future. It takes some getting used to, but it’s helpful.

“It would seem to me that social media represents a section of the community and Neighbourhood Watch represents maybe an older demographic. That’s just my opinion, but maybe we need to find ways of developing Neighbourhood Watch across a wider demographic.”

• To find out more about becoming a Special Constable, go to nyspecials.com