NORTH Yorkshire is bucking the trend with a record number of police officers, despite the number of bobbies falling across the UK.

The number of police officers in England and Wales has fallen for the first time since March 2000, according to new figures from the Home Office. The total dropped by 173 officers to 141,873 at the end of September.

In North Yorkshire, there were 1,642 officers, an increase of 49 since September 2005.

It was one of only two forces to have an increase in officer numbers of more than four per cent last year.

But Mark Botham, chairman of the local branch of the Police Federation, said: "In North Yorkshire, we do have a record number of officers but wonder, ahead of Monday's North Yorkshire Police Authority meeting, what the future holds if we do not secure sufficient funding to enable us to continue to deliver an effective value for money public service."

At Monday's meeting the Police Authority will discuss a planned increase in the police's council tax precept for 2007/2008.

Police say even a five per cent increase would leave a £3 million deficit in the force's budget.

But North Yorkshire MP Phil Willis said there should be no increase, because there have been record- breaking increases over the past five years and the force has reserves of more than £30million.

In March 2006, they stood at just over £35.1 million but by March this year they are expected to be just under £25.2 million. They are forecast to be about £12.4 million by 2009.

Mr Botham said: "There is a £1.1 million funding gap and they can't keep dipping into reserves forever."

Budget figures show that police will have spent almost £10 million of their reserves during this financial year.

Police forces have come under increasing budget pressures in the last two years, at the end of a period of massive Government investment in the number of officers.

But the number of police community support officers rose by 35 per cent nationally and by 23 per cent in North Yorkshire. The number in the county is expected to increase from 85 to 183 by March 2008.

Police had been planning for 269 PCSOs by that date, but the Government has reduced its funding.

Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said that while nationally officer numbers were declining, expectations on the police service continue to increase.

She said many forces will shed police officers or staff in the coming year due to financial pressure.

"I fear the cuts in police numbers, increased recruitment of cheaper alternatives and the implementation of poorly tested work force modernisation projects will inevitably place the safety of the public at risk," she added.