THE cost to council taxpayers of policing in North Yorkshire should rise by no more than three per cent, a York councillor claimed today.

Coun Ruth Potter, who is Labour's City of York Council representative on the North Yorkshire Police Authority, said the maximum increase in the police precept for 2007/08 should be three per cent.

She said: "City of York Council tax payers already pay more for their police than in other areas.

The large increase in precept level in 2003 and increased funding from Central Government has provided additional resources for more officers and a number of capital projects needed to modernise the force's systems.

"It also provided an increased base level on which future percentage increases can be applied."

Her comments were in response to North Yorkshire Police Authority's survey on how much the Police precept should be raised, She said, "The recent improvements in performance are very welcome. However, residents feel that they still do not get value for money. Increasing the precept by more than inflation is simply not sustainable in the long term.

"What is needed is for North Yorkshire Police to improve their level of performance within their existing level of resources.

"As well as ensuring that the recent changes in the Control Centre and with Neighbourhood Policing are bedded in."