NORTH Yorkshire Chief Constable Della Cannings says the force's biggest challenge for the next six months is sustaining the successes it has already achieved.

But in an interview with the Evening Press she admitted that the York and Selby district faces some of the toughest challenges as an overhaul of working practices continues.

She also hit back at her critics who claim the central area, which suffers almost 50 per cent of crime in North Yorkshire according to police figures, is inadequately resourced.

Ms Cannings was speaking after new figures for April and May revealed a revitalised service on target to achieve her ambition of becoming the best performing force in England and Wales by the year 2007/2008.

She said: "Central Area has the biggest challenge. We are seeing some really dramatic changes in the central area and the crime rate is going down faster than the whole force.

"I want to make sure that it continues to go down so the impact on crime is felt by the whole community of North Yorkshire."

She said: "Each of my three areas is resourced appropriately. They deliver what they need to do. But of course we would welcome more resources if local authorities want to fund them."

The latest police figures show how recorded crime dropped by five per cent to 11,225 offences across the county in April and May, compared to 11,786 for the same period the previous year.

The number of robbery, burglary and vehicle crime all show impressive falls, but violent crime, including domestic violence and sexual assault, rose by 60 per cent.

The Chief Constable, who has spearheaded Operation Delivery, a drive to improve performance and come down hard on offenders, said she was concerned about the level of violent crime.

But she said an increase of 11 per cent in North Yorkshire was less that the national increase of 15 per cent. Police bosses argue that new counting rules have affected the number of recorded violent offences.

Ms Cannings said residents, businesses and local groups can all play their part in tacking crime by securing their properties, informing the police of illegal activity and supporting local officers.

Updated: 10:42 Thursday, June 10, 2004