SHE promised us more bobbies on the beat, and she delivered. When Chief Constable Della Cannings leapt from her car to arrest two alleged vandals, that was one more bobby than they were expecting.

Ms Cannings' action is a terrific example of leading from the top. Her spur-of-the-moment action to get to grips with crime will be a shock to North Yorkshire's felons. They can never again be sure that, as they jemmy open a window, the Chief Constable is not waiting in the darkness to pounce.

Updated: 12:01 Tuesday, November 04, 2003